Tesla, the EV brand that is leading the charge in the world of electric mobility, is still optimistic about its plans to enter India. Elon Musk, the co-founder of Tesla, has been quite vocal about his plans for disrupting new technologies for what he refers to as sustainable progress for mankind.
Autocar Professional had first revealed Tesla’s plans to enter the India market five years ago, when the company's former CIO, Jayaprakash Vijayan came to New Delhi with plans to set up a distribution network and also an affordable EV. It is another thing that nothing much materalised due to the country’s taxation policy and high import costs.
On March 14, Musk tweeted a video, wherein he responded to a query at the launch of the Model Y about building superchargers in Kazakhstan. Known for his quirky replies, a Twitter user Shubham Rathi asked Musk about his much-delayed plans for India.
Much to his and many others’ surprise, Musk said that Tesla "would love to be there this year. If not, definitely next! India." This is not the first time, Musk has been asked about his plans for the country, in fact, in June 2017, Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, who is equally ambitious about EVs had invited Tesla to set up a base in the country.
It was followed by a query by another Twitter user, for which Musk had asked that the company was in discussion with the Indian government on temporary relief on import duties, till the organisation starts local manufacturing to bring down the cost.
Given the Indian's government's heightened focus on electric mobility and with the recent FAME II scheme which has an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore and puts a thrust on domestic manufacturing, it looks like Tesla may be seriously taking a relook at its India plan. Stay tuned.