Amid huge speculations regarding the announcement of a new Tesla plant in Gujarat during the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, government officials said that Elon Musk will not attending the event.
Managing Director of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation Rahul Gupta informed on Wednesday that Tesla and space X chairman Elon Musk will not come to Gujarat for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, but his company is welcome to make investments in the state.
A state government official told PTI, “Musk is not expected. If he were to come, would he not attend the inaugural session? Will he be attending the seminars on day 2 and day 3?”
Rumours of Musk visiting to India in January were High after the state government of Gujarat had said in December that they are “very hopeful” that Tesla will set up a plant in the state, in the midst of the growing electric vehicle market.
Gujarat government officials had said that Musk is considering Gujarat as his “first choice” to enter the Indian market with Tesla. Government spokesman Rushikesh Patel said in December, “Gujarat has been on his mind ever since he began a survey in India to search a suitable location to set up the plant.”
What’s on cards for Tesla in India?
Elon Musk, the owner of world’s biggest electric car maker Tesla, had said last year that he has plans to tour India in 2024, likely to broader the business of his companies in the country.
Sources quoted by the Times of India said that Tesla is in touch with Centre to discover setting up a plant in Gujarat shortly. The state of Gujarat has been a frontrunner when it comes to setting up a Tesla plant, especially since it has emerged as an automobile hub for brands like Tata, Ford and Suzuki.
Elon Musk had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s trip to the United States in June 2023, holding discussions about setting up an electric car factory in India. Tesla had also previously briefed about investing up to $2 billion in India to set up an EV factory.
The main hurdle to forge ⁸for a potential partnership between Tesla and the Indian government is the 15% to 20% concession sought by the car company on import duties of cars for at least the first two years.
