Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed his commitment to bringing the electric carmaker to India “as soon as humanly possible,” following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to the US.
The Indian government extended an invitation to Mr. Musk to explore investment opportunities in the electric mobility and commercial space sectors.
Mr. Musk acknowledged the invitation and stated that he was currently assessing the optimal timing for Tesla’s entry into the Indian market.
This meeting between Mr. Modi and Mr. Musk took place shortly after Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey accused India of threatening to shut down the platform for non-compliance with content removal requests.
The Indian government strongly refuted Mr. Dorsey’s allegations, labeling them as “an outright lie.”
On the matter, Mr. Musk commented that Twitter had no choice but to comply with local governments’ regulations, lest it face closure.
He emphasized that Twitter would strive to provide the utmost freedom of speech within the bounds of the law.
During the meeting, Mr. Musk expressed his admiration for Mr. Modi, referring to himself as a “fan” of the Indian Prime Minister. He commended India for its potential, stating that it held more promise than any other large country globally.
Mr. Musk assured reporters that Tesla intended to make significant investments in India and would do so at the earliest opportunity.
In recent months, Tesla has been engaging in discussions with Indian officials as it seeks to enter the domestic market. Reports have suggested that Tesla proposed establishing a factory for manufacturing electric vehicles in India, as well as exploring the production of EV batteries within the country.
Indian federal minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar confirmed that Tesla was seriously considering India as a production and innovation base.
Tesla’s Plans
Last year, Tesla’s initial plans to enter the Indian market were put on hold due to disagreements with the Indian government regarding local production requirements.
Tesla aimed to first test demand by exporting vehicles to India, while the government insisted on local manufacturing.
Mr. Musk also expressed his hope to introduce the Starlink satellite internet service, operated by his company SpaceX, to India, highlighting the potential for a significant investment in the India-SpaceX relationship.
Mr. Modi Visits the US
Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the US is regarded as a crucial milestone in bilateral relations between India and the United States.
He arrived in New York on Tuesday and is scheduled to receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on Thursday, followed by direct talks with President Joe Biden.
Ahead of these discussions, more than 70 US lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to address human rights concerns with Prime Minister Modi during their meeting.
The lawmakers expressed apprehension regarding religious intolerance, press freedom, and the targeting of civil society groups in India.
