No, Tesla Is Not Setting up an EV Manufacturing Plant in India – Just Yet!
Feb. 15, 2021Tesla isrumoredto make its India debut very soon. The confirmation came from CEO Elon Musk and Indian transport minister Nitin Gadkari earlier last year. We have also learned that Teslaregistered its India entityin Bengaluru last month. And apart from the fans, it appears like the Kerela government is really excited about the EV maker’s India launch.
Tesla Manufacturing Plant in Karnataka…What?
Well, over the weekend, the Internet wasflooded with reportsof Tesla’s plan to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the state of Karnataka. Yeah, the Karnataka government released a budget highlights document on Sunday. It carried a statement from Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, which said that the American company“will be opening an electric car manufacturing unit”in the state.
This was puzzling for many as neither the official budget announcement included any mentions of Tesla nor did the company announce anything of this sort. Well, it seems like the government jumped the gun for political reasons. It wanted to highlight how Tesla’s manufacturing unit would be the crown jewel of this administration. But, the statement is false, asrevealedby sources close to the CM.
The Karnataka government and Tesla might have held talks about manufacturing or assembly plans. But, as per reports, nothing has been written in ink yet.
And if you have been keeping tabs on the Tesla-India launch updates, then you know this is a second strike for the Karnataka government. CM BS Yediyurappa previously claimed on Twitter that theEV maker will set up an R&D facility in Bengaluru. You can see the screenshot of the tweet below. But, the tweet was quickly deleted as it was said to be a misunderstanding. The same is the case with the Tesla manufacturing plant statement in the official budget highlights document.
