New Delhi: India has said that Tesla owner Elon Musk was welcome to manufacture and sell his electric vehicles in the country.
“But he cannot manufacture in China and sell in India. That would not be a good proposition,” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.
Gadkari said India has all the competency, vendors and technology that Musk seeks. “We can reduce the cost,” he said, adding, “Come to India and start manufacturing. India is a huge market. There are ports available. Export will not be a problem.”
“But don’t manufacture in China and sell in India. Our request to Musk is – come to India and manufacture in India,” the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said on Tuesday.
Tesla wants to import and sell its electric vehicles in India and has lobbied for a year to lower tariffs. India, however, has turned down his request as it believes the current tax structure is well suited to the local assembly of vehicles.
News agency Reuters said the company’s efforts to invest are now at stalemate as the company is yet to reveal plans to invest in India which could be in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ mantra to boost local manufacturing and create jobs here.
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