Elon Musk, the maverick billionaire, has got India buzzing with a single tweet. ” I look forward to it,” he declared, responding to a playful tweet about visiting India in 2024.
But here’s the juicy bit: this isn’t just a casual drop-in. Musk’s tweet comes on the heels of a rendezvous with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New York earlier this year. And Musk had then said that he was planning to visit the country sometime next year.
Now, if you’re wondering why Musk’s India visit is making waves, here’s the lowdown. Tesla, Musk’s electric car brainchild, has been eyeing the Indian market for a while. And while the tech mogul confidently stated that Tesla’s Indian debut is “as soon as humanly possible,” there’s more to the story.
See also: Elon Musk Applauds India’s Budget-Friendly Chandrayaan 3 Ahead Of Moon Landing
Behind closed doors, Tesla’s been in intense talks about a potential investment in a plant and even a new, wallet-friendly $24,000 EV tailored for India. PM Modi is said to be personally overseeing these discussions.
But, there’s a speed bump. Tesla’s been eager to zoom into India since 2019, but a hefty import duty on EVs is throwing a spanner in the works. With the cheapest Tesla ringing in at around ₹37 lakh, a 100% import duty could drive prices sky-high, potentially stalling Tesla’s Indian dream. But with Musk’s upcoming visit, who knows? Maybe it’s time for a game-changer.
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