Tesla, the US electric car manufacturer, has not yet disclosed its plans for India under the country’s new EV policy, as stated by an official on Friday. Elon Musk, the American tech magnate and CEO of Tesla had postponed his visit to India scheduled for April 21-22, citing heavy obligations related to Tesla.
Elon Musk cancelled his trip to India because of “too much work at Tesla.”
Since then, he has been to China and is now in Bali, Indonesia. 🤔
Some Indian bureaucrats are screwing it up… pic.twitter.com/JypYgTruOO
— S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) May 19, 2024
“They (Tesla) are just silent.. the (EV) policy was always meant for everybody,” the official said when asked whether the company has communicated its plans to the government.
“The commercial decisions are announced by the companies,” the official added.
During his visit, Musk was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Last June, Musk had met Modi during the latter’s US visit and had expressed his intention to visit India in 2024, showing confidence in Tesla’s entry into the Indian market.
Anticipation was high for Musk’s visit, with expectations that he would unveil plans for Tesla’s establishment in India, including investments potentially worth billions of dollars for manufacturing units and the launch of Tesla electric cars in India.
What Is Up With Tesla?
In addition to electric vehicles, Musk is also interested in introducing his satellite internet venture, Starlink, in India, pending regulatory approvals.
Previously, Musk had advocated for a reduction in import duties in India to facilitate the sale of Tesla cars in the country.
His planned visit coincided with the government’s announcement of a new electric vehicle policy, offering import duty concessions to companies investing a minimum of USD 500 million in manufacturing units in India, with the aim of attracting global players like Tesla.
Last month, an advisor representing Tesla, The Asia Group (TAG), participated in the initial stakeholders’ meeting on the new EV policy, alongside other major automotive manufacturers in India and Vietnamese EV maker VinFast. The meeting aimed to gather insights for framing guidelines for the new EV manufacturing policy.
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