According to the latest report, four senior Indian officials have invited Tesla CEO Elon Musk to build factories in their respective states. Shortly before they threw out the olive branch, Musk expressed his complaints about India’s high import tariffs on his personal social media Twitter.
Musk’s complaints appear to have turned Tesla’s entry into the Indian market. Two days ago, Telangana minister KT Rama Rao said that Telangana is willing to cooperate with Tesla to build a factory.
In addition, Jayant Patil, a senior minister of the Indian Congress Party in Maharashtra, also publicly invited Musk to build a factory in Maharashtra. Punjab Assembly Chairman Navjot Singh Sidhu and West Bengal Minister Md Ghulam Rabbani followed suit with an olive branch to Musk.
Patil publicly invited Musk on Twitter, asking him to consider setting up a Tesla car manufacturing plant in the state. Maharashtra is one of the most progressive states in India. We in Maharashtra will provide you with all the necessary assistance to help you get a foothold in India. We invite you to Maharashtra to Build a manufacturing plant.
On Thursday, Musk tweeted that “many challenges related to the Indian government are still being dealt with.” Tesla had been preparing to enter the Indian market three years ago, but there has been no progress.
Earlier, India’s heavy industry sector refused to give Tesla a full commitment in this regard but urged Tesla to start producing electric vehicles locally first. The main concern for India’s heavy industry sector is that other companies may seek similar concessions, the sources said.
An Indian official said, “Currently, it does not offer any special concessions to other automakers setting up factories in India. If Tesla is regarded as a special case, it will make concessions on import duties and have made huge investments. It’s not fair to have a business.”
I invite @elonmusk, Punjab Model will create Ludhiana as hub for Electric Vehicles & Battery industry with time bound single window clearance for investment that brings new technology to Punjab, create green jobs, walking path of environment preservation & sustainable development https://t.co/kXDMhcdVi6
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 16, 2022
Still, Patil’s invitation to Musk came as a surprise. However, the source said, “Patil’s invitation to Musk is clear. Every state is entitled to the largest and best investors.” Punjab Assembly Chairman Sidhu and West Bengal Minister Rabbani issued similar invitations to Musk. Sidhu said in a tweet: “I extend an invitation to Musk that the Punjab model will make Ludhiana a hub for the EV and battery industry, provide a one-stop permit for investments within the agreed timeframe, and also help to provide Punjab Bring new technologies, create green jobs, and walk the path of environmental protection and sustainable development.”
Rabbani, West Bengal’s education minister, tweeted: “Welcome, we in West Bengal have the best infrastructure and our leaders are visionary. Coming to Bengal means business.”