Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed his intentions to invest in India and bring the electric carmaker to the country as soon as possible. Musk recently had a productive conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is hopeful that they will soon be able to announce something significant.
This development comes as Tesla and the Indian government have resumed discussions regarding incentives to facilitate the carmaker’s entry into the South Asian market. Additionally, representatives from SpaceX, another company led by Musk, have also engaged in talks with the Indian telecom ministry to explore the establishment of satellite internet service Starlink in the country.
Musk has been actively pursuing Tesla’s expansion into India for several years. While he initially aimed to introduce the carmaker to the country as early as 2021, he has been awaiting substantial incentives from the Indian government before committing to major investments. Tesla’s plans to set up a manufacturing plant in India hinge on receiving permission to sell and service imported cars in the country.
Musk spoke highly of Prime Minister Modi, describing himself as a big fan. He emphasized India’s potential, stating that it holds more promise than any other large country in the world. Musk acknowledged Modi’s efforts to encourage significant investments in India and expressed Tesla’s intention to make such investments, while also mentioning the need to determine the right timing for entry into the Indian market.
In addition to Tesla, Musk also expressed his interest in bringing Starlink to India. Starlink, a division of SpaceX, has already registered its business in India and appointed a top executive to oversee its operations. However, complications arose when the Indian government ordered SpaceX to halt the acceptance of orders for Starlink devices due to a lack of necessary operating licenses.
Elon Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi comes in the wake of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s revelation that India regularly demanded the removal of certain posts and accounts on the platform, often accompanied by threats of legal consequences for non-compliance.
