Modi in US: Meeting with Indian PM fuels Tesla’s ambition; Musk praises Modi’s push for investments

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed his intention to bring the electric car company to India as soon as possible. This statement came after a meeting between Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently visiting the United States.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, in New York. pic.twitter.com/SjN1mmmvfd

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2023

The Indian government extended an invitation to Musk to explore investment opportunities in the electric mobility and commercial space sectors. Musk mentioned that he is working on determining the right timing to make this happen. Shortly after Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey claimed India threatened to shut down the service if it didn’t follow its orders to remove information, Modi and Musk met. The Indian government strongly denied these allegations.

Regarding the situation, Musk commented that Twitter has no choice but to obey local governments, or else the platform will be shut down. He emphasised that Twitter will strive to provide the maximum freedom of speech within the boundaries of the law.

Musk expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Modi and stated that India holds great potential compared to other large countries. He mentioned that Modi is encouraging significant investments in India, something Tesla intends to do. Musk assured reporters that he is confident Tesla will enter the Indian market at the earliest opportunity.

Tesla has been in discussions with Indian officials as it seeks to establish a presence in the country. Recent reports indicate that Tesla has proposed building a factory for electric vehicle production and exploring the manufacturing of EV batteries in India. The company’s initial plans to enter the Indian market were put on hold last year due to disagreements over local manufacturing requirements.

Musk also expressed his hope to introduce Starlink satellite internet service, operated by his company SpaceX, in India. He stated that there will likely be a substantial investment in the relationship between Tesla and India.

#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

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States is viewed as a pivotal moment for bilateral relations between India and the US. He is scheduled to receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House and engage in direct talks with President Joe Biden. Prior to his visit, over 70 US lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to address human rights concerns during his discussions with Prime Minister Modi. They expressed their worries about religious intolerance, press freedom, and the targeting of civil society groups in India.

“I am a fan of Modi”: Elon Musk hails India’s potential, shares takeaways from his meeting with the PM in New York#ElonMusk #NarendraModi #PMModi #Modi #ModiInAmerica #Tesla #India #NewYork pic.twitter.com/Fwk4L5h7jC

— Republic (@republic) June 21, 2023