Tesla has been expanding its operations globally, and as such, a newer rumor which posits that the company will expand into India in early 2021 has just been confirmed.
On Monday, the Indian Express reported that India’s Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, told the media that Tesla plans to start operations in India in early 2021:
He said Tesla will start operations first with sales and then maybe look at assembly and manufacturing based on the response to the cars. “India is going to become a number 1 manufacturing hub for auto in five years,” Gadkari added.
While Tesla CEO Elon Musk had already announced that it will unveil India’s order configurator in January, the report from Gadkari further confirms the company’s expansion plans.
Hi @elonmusk @Tesla whenever tesla comes to India would you introduce a car that is affordable to an average Indian?
— Meet Patel (@MeetP23) December 28, 2020
Gadkari also shared that the move was part of an elaborate plan for India to become a major contributor to the global auto industry.
“India is going to become a number 1 manufacturing hub for auto in five years,” Gadkari added.
Earlier in the fall, Musk also tweeted that Tesla would be launching in India in 2021 “for sure.” While Tesla began collecting reservation money from interested buyers in India back in 2016, those buyers are still waiting.
Then, in 2017 Musk promised to deliver cars in India by that summer, but later blamed regulations for the delay, tweeting, “Maybe I’m misinformed, but I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply doesn’t yet exist in India to support that.”
On December 26, when asked about Tesla coming to India in January 2021, Musk replied “no, but definitely this year”, hinting at a 2020 launch, although it remains unclear what he was trying to say.
No, but definitely this year
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 27, 2020
Regardless, the expansion of Tesla around the globe and into India would be yet another boon for the company.
