Elon Musk, the head of the world’s number one electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and Internet media platform X, will arrive in India on the late evening of April 21. He is expected to announce India’s entry into three major industrial sectors – solar energy, electric vehicles and internet services through satellite.
The company is likely to set up its first EV factory in India and third in Asia. Along with this, Tesla CEO Musk is also expected to announce the production of the world’s cheapest electric car in India. The plant in India is set to target markets in Asia and South America more than the domestic market here. All these announcements by the Tesla chief will be made when the general elections in India have started and the government of PM Modi is constantly talking about making India a developed country by the year 2047.
Starlink to get approval before Musk’s arrival in India Musk is expected to meet PM Modi on April 22. Elon Musk is also set to announce his satellite-based internet service Starlink in India. Earlier in the day, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) gave in-principle approval to the proposal for Starlink’s India operations. The final approval will come after consultations between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Communications. Musk had expressed his intention to provide satellite-based communication and internet services in India in June 2023.
Tesla’s advisers attended the meeting on EV vehicle policy. A Tesla consultant attended a meeting on India’s new electric vehicle (EV) policy on Thursday. “A meeting was held to seek suggestions for the guidelines to be prepared for the new EV manufacturing policy, in which Tesla was joined by its consultant ‘The Asia Group’,” an official said. Vietnam’s EV manufacturer VinFast was also present at the meeting.
India becomes priority country for Tesla
Musk’s visit to India comes amid reports of China and the US reducing their share in EVs. China is currently the fastest growing market for EVs, but domestic companies (BYD, etc.) are growing very fast. In such a situation, Tesla is eyeing the Indian market and wants to launch such an electric car in India which can be sold in developing markets around the world. In a way, India has become a priority country for Tesla where it can invest in technology-based industries other than EVs. However, a detailed announcement in this regard is likely to be made after the meeting with PM Modi. The company will also reveal in which state its plant will be located in India. Musk will also meet Indian start-ups and some of the country’s well-known industrialists.
