Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated on June 20 that the electric carmaker is aiming to invest in India "as soon as humanly possible,” following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York during his official visit to the United States.
“I would like to thank the prime minister for his support and hopefully we'll be able to announce something in the not-too-distant future,” the Tesla CEO said.
Musk mentioned that the Prime Minister is pushing foreign business leaders to make significant investments in India. "We just have to figure out the right timing. He wants to do the right thing for India. He wants to be open and supportive of the companies. And obviously, at the same time, make sure that it accrues to India's advantage," he added.
The dialogue between Musk and PM Modi comes at a time when discussions between Tesla and the Indian government have been reignited regarding potential incentives to facilitate Tesla's entry into the Indian market.
Musk has expressed his desire to bring Tesla to India for several years but has been waiting for significant incentives from the Indian government before making substantial commitments. He clarified that Tesla would only establish a manufacturing plant in India if it is permitted to sell and service imported cars in the country.
Musk's meeting with PM Modi also indicated his interest in introducing Starlink to India, although he did not provide a specific timeline. Starlink had registered its business in India and hired a local executive to oversee its operations.
Sanjay Bhargava, the CEO employed by Starlink India, resigned a few weeks later after the Indian government ordered the SpaceX company to cease collecting orders for the devices because it lacked the license to conduct business in the South Asian market,
This meeting between Musk and PM Modi followed Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey's recent disclosure that the Indian government frequently ordered the removal of specific posts and accounts from the platform, often accompanied by threats of legal consequences for non-compliance.
— Harshita Kumar
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