After Karnataka government’s invite to electric car maker Tesla, the Maharashtra government has rolled out the red carpet. Emphasising the state’s push to electric mobility, Maharashtra’s tourism and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray said in a tweet that talks were held with representatives of the San Carlos-headquartered company with the state’s industries minister.
The invite comes after Elon Musk’s indication to bring Tesla to India. Tesla’s cofounder had earlier tweeted that the company would be entering the Indian market “next year for sure”.
Recently Tesla had initiated talks to set up a research and innovation centre in Bengaluru. Earlier in May 2019, Chennai-based automobile manufacturer Ashok Leyland had invited Tesla for a partnership to help Elon Musk bring the Tesla brand of electric vehicles to India.
Tesla’s India plans come when the government is pushing the Indian automotive companies to expedite electric vehicle manufacturing in the country. According to the country’s FDI policy, it is mandated that any company aiming to set up a retail location, must sell at least 30% of locally sourced goods.
Last year, while interacting with students of IIT Madras, Musk had said that Tesla might run on Indian roads by 2020. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown interest in Tesla, and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has offered the company land near the port to import their technology.