Elon Musk is all set for a highly anticipated trip to India, where he will spend a packed 48 hours. Musk is expected to be in India from April 21 to April 22. Throughout his visit, he is slated to unveil major updates regarding Tesla’s entry into the Indian market and SpaceX’s Starlink project. Musk also has a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Here’s everything we know so far about Elon Musk’s forthcoming visit to India:
When is Elon Musk Coming to India?
Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister @NarendraModi in India!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2024
Elon Musk has confirmed his visit to India on April 21 and 22. He also shared a tweet on his official X handle expressing his excitement for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Elon Musk’s Upcoming Announcements for India: What to Expect
Here’s everything Musk is expected to announce during his two-day trip to India:
Tesla’s Entry into the Indian Market
We have been hearing rumours about Tesla’s entry into the Indian market for a long time. Musk himself has expressed his enthusiasm for the Indian market several times. During this upcoming visit to India, the CEO is expected to announce a tentative date for Tesla’s sales operations in the country.
Musk is also said to announce a ballpark figure for Tesla’s investment in India, which will likely be around two to three billion dollars. This money is expected to be used to set up a manufacturing plant in India, which could be in Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, or Uttar Pradesh.
This will be a completely integrated plant, and the company will likely localise several essential components. Recently, a report stated that Reliance is expected to play a significant role in helping Tesla establish the factory and its operations.
While the company is expected to manufacture some of its low-cost electric cars in India, Tesla’s first electric car batch will be imported from its Germany plant. Apart from that, some of Tesla’s premium offerings, such as Model X or S, will continue to be imported even after setting up a plant in India.
The company reportedly plans to debut with the Model Y in India, followed by Tesla’s yet-to-be-named 2-door electric car.
SpaceX’s Starlink Project for India
Starlink is a SpaceX project that delivers satellite-based high-speed internet connectivity. Musk has made several attempts to introduce Starlink to India. The company also applied for a GMPCS licence back in November 2022.
However, disagreement with the government about pre-orders without proper licence resulted in suspending proposed satellite communication service trials.
Nonetheless, just before Musk’s India visit, Starlink secured a provisional nod from the telecom Ministry. This crucial consent overcomes the substantial obstacle that has impeded the project’s progress in India for over three years.
Elon Musk to Meet Indian Space Startups
The SpaceX CEO will also meet several Space startups, such as Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Bellatrix Aerospace, and Dhruva Space.
