Elon Musk Sets Sights on India: Tesla and Starlink Debut in the Works After Meeting with PM Modi
Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer of Tesla, recently conveyed the enthusiasm of his company to invest in India and introduce their electric vehicles to the nation at the earliest opportunity. Elon Musk characterized his discussion with Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, as “extremely positive” and conveyed optimism regarding an imminent announcement.
This dialogue between Musk and Modi occurs at a time when Tesla and New Delhi are discussing incentives to facilitate the carmaker’s entry into the South Asian market. Additionally, representatives from SpaceX have recently engaged in conversations with the Indian telecom ministry to explore the establishment of the satellite internet service Starlink in the country, according to a reliable source.
Musk has been eager to bring Tesla to India for several years. While he initially aimed to introduce the carmaker to the country as early as 2021, he has been cautious about making significant commitments until New Delhi offers substantial incentives. As per Musk’s statement, Tesla will contemplate the establishment of a manufacturing facility in India solely upon receiving authorization to distribute and provide maintenance for imported vehicles within the nation.
This decision came after an Indian state announced Tesla’s plans to establish a plant in the southern region more than a year ago.
In his recent statement, Musk conveyed his deep respect for Modi, affirming that “India holds tremendous potential among all major nations globally.” He underscored Modi’s sincere dedication to India and his support for substantial investments in the nation, which resonates with Tesla’s objectives. However, Musk mentioned that they are currently determining the appropriate timing for their endeavours in India.
In addition to Tesla, Musk also conveyed his enthusiasm for bringing Starlink, a division of SpaceX, to India. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for this expansion. Starlink has already registered its business in India in late 2021 and appointed a top executive to lead the local operations. Unfortunately, this executive, Sanjay Bhargava, resigned shortly after due to the Indian government’s order for SpaceX to cease taking orders for their devices until they obtained the necessary license to operate in the South Asian market.
Musk’s meeting with Modi follows a recent revelation from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who disclosed that India regularly issues orders to remove specific posts and accounts on the social media platform. These demands often involve threats of legal consequences in cases of noncompliance.