Elon Musk Postpones India Visit Amid Significant Tesla Commitments
In a recent update shared on social media platform X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the postponement of his anticipated visit to India, which was originally scheduled for April 21 and 22. This decision comes just hours after CNBC-TV18 reported the delay, citing multiple sources familiar with the plans.
Musk, who had expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming trip and a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stated that overwhelming responsibilities at Tesla necessitated the deferment. “Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year,” Musk conveyed through his post.
The Tesla CEO’s interaction with PM Modi was highly anticipated, during which he was expected to outline Tesla’s entry into the Indian market. Earlier on April 10, Musk had shared his eagerness to meet Modi, aligning with India’s recent policy shifts to boost electric vehicle manufacturing. The Indian government’s new electric vehicle policy includes potential duty concessions for carmakers that commit to manufacturing within the nation. Currently, imported cars face hefty customs duties, with rates between 70% and 100%, making India one of the highest taxing nations for imported vehicles.
Prior discussions hinted at Musk’s plans to present a significant investment blueprint, potentially channeling between 20 to 30 billion dollars into India. However, uncertainties loomed over the realization of the Starlink agreement during this visit.
In a related note, PM Modi, in an interview with ANI, clarified previous comments about Musk’s support, emphasizing that Musk’s admiration extends beyond individual personalities to India as a whole. Modi recounted meeting Musk twice, once during a factory visit in 2015 and again in 2023 during a state visit to the US. He reflected on these meetings with fondness and understanding of Musk’s vision, which reinforced the mutual anticipation of strengthening ties through Musk’s future visit.
Last year, during Modi’s trip to the US in June, Musk had affirmed his intentions to enter the Indian market by 2024, underscoring a positive outlook for Tesla’s expansion plans in India.
