New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday, reaffirming both sides' interest in deepening collaboration between India and the United States in technology and innovation. The interaction comes as Tesla eyes a potential entry into the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market.
The two leaders touched on a variety of topics, continuing the dialogue they began during their in-person meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. Their discussion emphasized the increasing alignment between India’s dynamic tech sector and Musk’s ventures in advanced innovation.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi shared, “Had a good conversation with Elon Musk where we discussed multiple subjects, including those from our earlier meeting in Washington. We spoke about the vast opportunities for cooperation in technology and innovation. India remains committed to strengthening its partnership with the United States in these fields.”
During their February meeting in the US, Musk was accompanied by his three children—X, Strider, and Azure. Notably, he presented PM Modi with a hexagonal heatshield tile from SpaceX's Starship.
The phone call comes at a significant time, with reports indicating that Tesla is preparing to enter the Indian market. According to Bloomberg, the EV giant plans to ship a few thousand vehicles to a port near Mumbai and launch sales in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore by the third quarter of 2025.
Tesla's entry is expected to coincide with ongoing trade discussions between India and the US over import duties, which will likely play a key role in shaping Tesla's long-term plans in the country. Since PM Modi’s meeting with Musk earlier this year, the company has reportedly initiated recruitment efforts for positions related to showrooms and vehicle deliveries in India.
