No special policy for Tesla, can seek incentives under existing schemes: Government officials: PTI

A government official has said that Tesla can apply to get support measures under existing schemes such as PLI for auto and advanced chemistry cells, adding that the government is not looking to formulate a separate policy for offering incentives to Elon Musk-led Tesla, PTI reported.

The government has already rolled out the production-linked incentives schemes for advanced chemistry cell battery storage, with an outlay of Rs 18,100 crore and a Rs 26, 058 crore PLI scheme for auto, auto components, and drone industries.

"We have told Tesla that the policies, which are already there for all, they can also apply under that for PLI. They are welcome. Generally, the policy will be the same for all. For a single company, the government may not like to make separate policies. So far, there is no plan to give special treatment,” the official said.

Representatives of Tesla’s biggest suppliers of electric batteries, Panasonic have met us, and “they have stated that they want to make batteries. We have suggested them to apply under PLI ACC batteries,” the official said.

Last month, representatives of Telsa visited India and met various ministry officials, including the Commerce and Industry Ministry. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the United States where he met Elon Musk, who had expressed confidence that Tesla will be in India as soon as humanely possible.