Elon Musk's announcement: Tesla to make India debut following meeting with PM Modi
New York, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his significant three-day state visit to the United States by meeting Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk. After the meeting, Musk expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Modi, stating, "I'm a fan of Modi."
He further elaborated, "It was a fantastic meeting with the Prime Minister, and I like him quite a lot. He visited our factory a few years ago, so we have known each other for a while. I am incredibly excited about the future of India. I think India has more promise than any large country in the world."
This is not the first encounter between the Prime Minister and Musk, as they previously met in 2015 during Modi's visit to the Tesla Motors factory in California.
#WATCH | Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, says "I'm incredibly excited about the future of India. India has more promise than any large country in the world. He (PM Modi) really cares about India as he's pushing us to make significant investments in India. I am a fan of Modi. It… pic.twitter.com/lfRNoUQy3R — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2023
When asked about a specific timeline for Tesla's entry into India, Musk confidently replied, "I am confident Tesla will be in India and will do so as soon as humanly possible."
Musk also highlighted Prime Minister Modi's commitment to India, stating, "PM Modi really cares about India because he is pushing us to make significant investment in India, which is something that we tend to do. We just have to figure out the right timing." He emphasized that Modi aims to support and promote companies in India while ensuring it benefits the country.
During an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Musk confirmed Tesla's interest in the Indian market by saying, "Absolutely." He further mentioned that the company is likely to finalize a location for its Indian factory by the end of this year.
Great meeting you today @elonmusk! We had multifaceted conversations on issues ranging from energy to spirituality. https://t.co/r0mzwNbTyN pic.twitter.com/IVwOy5SlMV — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2023
Apart from Elon Musk, the Prime Minister held meetings with various thought-leaders from diverse fields. This group includes Nobel laureates, economists, artists, scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs, academics, and experts from the health sector.
Notable individuals on the list include author Robert Thurman, statistician Nicholas Nassim Taleb, Indian-American singer Falu Shah, author and researcher Jeff Smith, former US trade representative Michael Froman, diplomat Daniel Russel, and defense expert Elbridge Colby.
Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US, which began on Tuesday, involves a prestigious State Visit, an honor reserved by Washington DC for the closest allies. The itinerary includes addressing a joint session of the US Congress, meetings with business leaders and Indian expats, and a state dinner at the White House with US President Joe Biden.
Trade and defense ties remain a significant focus of this landmark trip.
- With inputs from agencies
