Billionaire Elon Musk has finally broken his silence on the invitation of the Government of India to set up a Tesla Manufacturing plant in India in order to sell its premium Electric Cars. It's been more than a year since Elon Musk's Tesla registered its Indian arm in Bengaluru, however, its Electric cars are still nowhere to be seen on Indian roads. During an event, India's Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted that if the US-based EV maker manufactures its electric vehicles in India then it will also get benefits.
Now, Elon Musk has given an update on setting up a manufacturing plant in India. Elon Musk denied setting up a manufacturing plant and clearly stated that Tesla will not do it in any region until it is not allowed to first sell and services of its cars. Musk was responding to the query asked by a social media user on Twitter. The following response of Musk comes after Nitin Gadkari, had previously urged Tesla to not import vehicles from China.
Earlier this month, Gadkari said that if the US-based EV firm manufactures its cars in India then the company would get the required benefits. Tesla’s giga factory in Shanghai is its closest manufacturing facility to India.
"Tesla will not put a manufacturing plant in any location where we are not allowed first to sell & service cars," wrote Elon Musk. Furthermore, Elon Musk also gave an update on Starlink in India. Musk stated that the start of Starlink in India is under Government Negotiation Process.
It is pertinent to mention here that Tesla is already allowed to sell their cars in India, however in order to do so, Elon Musk's company had to pay import duties. India levies a 60% import duty on EVs priced $40,000 or lower. The import duty is 100% on EVs priced at more than $40,000.
OLA Co-Founder Bhavish Aggarwal hits back at Elon Musk
OLA Co-Founder Bhavish Aggarwal was one of the first persons to respond to Elon Musk's demands. Bhavish Aggarwal took to his Twitter handle and sarcastically acknowledged Elon Musk's tweet by saying, "Thanks, but no thanks."