Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. During the call, both leaders showed interest in working more closely in the areas of technology and innovation. This comes at a time when Tesla is expected to enter the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market very soon.

The two leaders have met before. Earlier this year in February, PM Modi met Elon Musk during his two-day visit to the United States. During that meeting, Musk had brought along his three children — X, Strider, and Azure. As a special gift, Elon Musk presented a Starship hexagonal shield tile to PM Modi. This shield is used in SpaceX’s rockets to protect them during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

According to reports, the recent phone call also followed up on their previous conversation in Washington, where both had discussed deepening the relationship between India and the US in the technology sector. The aim is to use each other’s strengths — India’s growing digital economy and Musk’s futuristic companies like Tesla and SpaceX.

Tesla’s plans for India

As per a report by Bloomberg, Tesla is planning to ship a few thousand electric cars to India, likely through a port near Mumbai. The company wants to start selling its cars in Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore by the third quarter of this year.

Tesla has also reportedly started hiring people for jobs related to showrooms and deliveries in India. However, one big issue remains — India’s import tariffs. Discussions between New Delhi and Washington are ongoing to resolve this, as it could affect Tesla's long-term plans in the country.

 

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