Elon Musk Confirms India Visit Amid Trade Tensions and Tesla Entry Buzz
19 Apr, 2025 16:58 IST|Sakshi Post
Tesla CEO and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has announced plans to visit India later this year, fueling fresh speculation around Tesla’s long-anticipated entry into the Indian market. The announcement came just a day after Musk held a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Friday, PM Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that he had spoken with Musk, discussing topics including technology, innovation, and follow-ups to their meeting in Washington, D.C., 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 wrote.
Responding to the post, Musk said, “It was an honor to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!”
India has been in ongoing discussions with Tesla regarding its official debut in the country. Musk’s conversation with PM Modi comes against the backdrop of escalating U.S.-China trade tensions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed 245% tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting retaliatory 125% tariffs by Beijing on American goods.
While Tesla primarily manufactures cars in the U.S., the company also operates factories in China and Germany. It remains heavily reliant on China for battery materials and key components, making it one of several American companies impacted by the trade war. Notably, Apple has also faced similar pressures and has accelerated production shifts to India to offset rising costs from China.
In this context, Musk’s visit has reignited interest in Tesla’s India launch. According to Bloomberg, Tesla may ship a few thousand cars to a port near Mumbai in the coming months, with sales likely to begin in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore by the third quarter of 2025.
Musk’s visit also coincides with ongoing efforts to launch his satellite internet venture, Starlink, in India, which is currently awaiting regulatory approval.
