Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is set to visit India for approximately 48 hours, during which he plans to make significant announcements, including launching Starlink services in the country. According to sources reported by CNBC-TV18 on April 12, Musk’s visit is scheduled for April 21 and 22. During this time, he and his team will meet with government officials and leaders from various industries. Musk is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Musk expressed his anticipation for the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on a social media platform on April 10.
In simpler terms: Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, is visiting India for about two days to announce big plans, like bringing Starlink services to India. He’ll meet government and industry leaders and is excited to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit.
Musk and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last met in New York in June, and Tesla has been lobbying for lower import taxes on electric vehicles in India for some time. In response, the Indian government recently unveiled a new electric vehicle (EV) policy, reducing import taxes from 100% to 15% on certain models if manufacturers invest at least $500 million and establish a local factory.
During his visit, Musk is expected to announce the launch of Starlink services in India, which would provide satellite-based broadband internet. CNBC-TV18 reports that regulatory approvals for Starlink are in the final stages, with a license expected soon.
Musk’s visit coincides with India’s seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, beginning April 19, where Modi is anticipated to secure a rare third term as Prime Minister. A Tesla investment announcement during this time would boost Modi’s image as business-friendly, aligning with his efforts to attract foreign companies to invest in India and create jobs.
In addition to investments, Tesla has started producing right-hand drive cars at its German plant for export to India later this year. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is actively positioning itself as a manufacturing hub for Tesla, capitalizing on speculation surrounding the company’s planned investments ahead of Musk’s visit.
Musk has emphasized the importance of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, stating that the country should have them just like any other nation. This move by Tesla comes as demand for EVs slows in the US and China, facing increased competition from Chinese automakers. Despite India’s relatively small EV market (2% of total car sales in 2023), the government aims for EVs to account for 30% of sales by 2030, presenting a growth opportunity for Tesla and other EV manufacturers.
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