Tesla, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturing company, has once again started looking for exhibition space in New Delhi. The Reuters news agency gave this information in one of its reports citing sources. This indicates that the company is reconsidering its entry into the Indian market after suspending its investment plans earlier this year.
Earlier, Tesla had canceled its plans to enter India and Musk had also canceled his visit which would take place in April. It was then expected that during his visit, Musk could announce an investment project of 2 to 3 billion dollars in India.
Company in talks with DLF
According to the report, Tesla is in talks with DLF, India’s largest real estate developer, for a showroom and operational space in Delhi-NCR. The company plans to set up operations at several locations, including DLF Avenue Mall in south Delhi and Cyber Hub in Gurugram. For this, the company is also in talks with other developers.
Tesla is looking for a showroom of 3,000 to 5,000 square feet, in which it will provide a customer experience center, Wheelux delivery and its service facilities. The search for space for Tesla’s showroom is still in its initial phase, the company has not yet finalized anything.
Musk was going to come to India after the new electric vehicle policy
Elon Musk was scheduled to visit India between April 22 and 27 this year, but as a result, he canceled his visit. Musk was also going to meet Prime Minister Modi during this tour. Elon Musk had planned to visit India after the government introduced a new electric vehicle policy. Under the new policy, foreign automakers will have to invest at least $497 million (Rs 4,150 crore) in India to get tax exemption and start production of electric vehicles within 3 years from a local manufacturing plant/facility.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal had arrived at the Tesla factory in November last year.
In November last year, Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited Tesla’s manufacturing plant in California. However, Elon Musk was not present during this period. He wrote on X: “It’s an honor to have you at Tesla! I’m sorry I can’t come to California today, but I look forward to meeting at a later date.
Sharing the photos, Piyush Goyal wrote on Goyal said, “I missed Elon Musk’s magnetic presence and wish his speedy recovery.”
Goyal had heard about the car at Tesla’s manufacturing plant and met the Indian engineers working there.
There has been no agreement between Tesla and the government, even in 2022
Tesla had also expressed its desire to come to India in 2022, but then talks could not be concluded between the company and the government. Tesla had asked the government to reduce import duties on fully assembled vehicles from 100% to 40%. The company wanted its vehicles to be considered electric and not luxury, but the government had said other countries had no plans to give up. reduce import duties on all electric vehicles imported from India. The government had said that if Tesla plans to set up a manufacturing plant in India, If the commitment is made, then an import exemption will be considered. However, Musk wanted the cars to be sold in India first and then the factory would be considered. In his response in a tweet on May 27, 2022, Elon Musk had also said: “Tesla does not plan a manufacturing plant in such a location. Will install it where it does not yet have permission to sell and service cars.