Elon Musk-led Tesla is reportedly in early discussions with Reliance Industries Ltd. about a possible joint venture to build a manufacturing facility in India. This would be Tesla’s first EV plant in the country.
Tesla’s First EV Plant in India
According to The Hindu BusinessLine report, the details of Reliance’s role are still being ironed out. Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate is expected to play a significant part in helping Tesla establish the factory and its operations. RIL has even introduced removable and swappable batteries for electric vehicles last year.
A report by Reuters has stated that senior Tesla officials, including, Musk are due to visit India this month to meet PM Narendra Modi to finalise the plant’s location and the specifics of the joint venture. This could be either in Gujarat or Maharashtra with the latter being a preference.
Tesla’s Plan for India
This news comes after Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his commitment to India last year. The Indian government has been actively pursuing global EV manufacturers, and reports suggest an agreement has been in the works that would see Tesla make an initial investment of around $2 billion to set up a plant and commit to increasing auto part purchases from India to a staggering $15 billion.
Tesla’s First Car In India
Earlier, a red Model X was spotted cruising near Minsk Square in Bangalore. That was mostly a private car registered in Dubai. The company doesn’t intend to launch the Model X in the Indian market.
Tesla is expected to make its India debut with the Model Y, followed by Tesla’s yet-to-be-named 2-door electric car. We expect more details to be out soon, so, stay tuned for more information.
