In what is expected to be the most high profile meeting since Elon Musk met Narendra Modi in June earlier this year, Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, will meet Elon Musk in the United States in the coming week, as both parties look to take ahead Tesla's plans to enter India, sources in the know told Reuters.
Talks between the Tesla CEO and Piyush Goyal will centre on Tesla's plans to establish a factory, manufacturing a $24,000 car here, besides sourcing components and setting up charging infrastructure pan India, one of the two persons in the know informed the newswire.
Talks on a new policy India is working on that will enable automakers to import fully built electric vehicles at a reduced tax rate of 15%, down from as much as 100% now, if they commit to some local manufacturing, are also on the table.
Reuters could not elicit a response from both the concerned parties.
Tesla and India have been in talks for several months with the U.S. carmaker open to setting up a factory but also keen to get lower import taxes for some of its high-end vehicles, the newswire reported.
A third source informed Reuters that Prime Minister Narenda Modi's office held a meeting with several ministries on Monday to expedite the new EV policy.