NEW DELHI: With Tesla set to launch cars in India soon, and satcom venture Starlink in the final phase of goverment approval process, American tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said he will be visiting the country later this year, the comments coming a day after he spoke to PM Narendra Modi over telephone.
“It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!” Musk said on X, as he responded to Modi’s post on their conversation.
On Friday, Modi had posted on X, “Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains.”
Modi and Musk had met during the PM’s visit to the US in February. They had discussed opportunities and cooperation between businesses of the two countries in areas such as electric vehicles, space, and renewable energy.
Musk’s plans appeared to have gone on hold when in 2024 he had abruptly cancelled his planned visit to India, though travelling to China just a few days later. However, things warmed up again later, especially the bonhomie between the PM and Musk.
Tesla has been working on its India entry plan for years now, and is likely to launch cars soon through the import route initially. While the company works out local manufacturing plans, possibly with an all-new budget car, it will test the waters for its imported EVs that will be retailed out of outlets coming up in New Delhi and Mumbai.
On Starlink, the company’s application for a satcom licence has been pending for years as the government and company executives work out various mandated compliances, including those around security aspects.
Musk coming to India later this year
Elon Musk said Saturday he would visit India later this year, as Tesla prepares to launch cars in the country and satcom venture Starlink is in the final phase of the govt approval process. Musk’s comment on X came a day after he spoke to PM Modi over telephone, and came in reply to the PM’s post on their chat.
