Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in New York. Their discussions primarily focused on exploring investment opportunities in India’s electric mobility and commercial space sector. Musk expressed his strong belief that Tesla would swiftly enter the Indian market and shared his intention to visit the country next year. He enthusiastically highlighted India’s immense potential, asserting that it surpasses that of any other large country in the world.
During the meeting, Musk unveiled his plans to introduce Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite-based broadband internet service, to India. He emphasized its potential in bridging the connectivity gap in remote or rural areas where internet access is limited, expensive, or slow. While refraining from making premature announcements, Musk hinted at a substantial investment in India, indicating his keen interest in the country’s progress.
This interaction between Musk and Modi coincided with reports of Tesla proposing the establishment of a factory in India for manufacturing electric vehicles and batteries. Furthermore, Tesla had requested the Indian government to consider reducing import taxes on their vehicles. However, Musk clarified that he was still deliberating the optimal timing for Tesla’s entry into the Indian market, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to the matter.
In response to Jack Dorsey’s recent allegations that the Indian government had threatened to shut down Twitter due to its non-compliance with orders to remove specific accounts during the 2021 farmers’ protest, Musk provided his perspective. He acknowledged that Twitter had no alternative but to adhere to local laws to avoid closure. Musk pledged to uphold the utmost freedom of speech within the boundaries of the law, underscoring his commitment to enabling open discourse.
