- Elon Musk wants to use the Indian market for selling his made in China cars but does not want to contributein providing jobs to Indians.
- India has again made it clear that Elon Musk won’t be provided with government support if he does not establish his base in India.
- It’s a testament to the Indian economy under PM Modi, that we are rejecting one of the topmost EV brands in the world.
Elon Musk’s Tesla is in a precarious situation. On one hand, the company wants to benefit from India’s booming economy, while on the other hand, it keeps patronizing China. But now, the company may need to choose one of the two.
Union Ministry denies favourable treatment to Tesla
Krishan Pal Gurjar, India’s Union Minister of state for heavy industries has categorically refused to cater to Elon Musk’s illogical demands. He made it clear that the car-making company won’t get any concessions until it starts manufacturing its cars in India.
In Lok Sabha, K Suresh, a Congress member asked the Modi Government whether they would invite Tesla to sell their electric cars in the Indian market.
Revealing that Elon Musk owned company had not even applied according to Indian norms, Krishan Pal Gurjar said, “Want to ask the member if they want India’s money to go to China? That company has not applied as per our policy. For that (company), doors of India are open, they can come apply as per policy, set up company, give jobs to our people, increase government revenue.”
Read more: Choosing Tesla over TATA reeks off ‘White skin worship’ attitude of India’s opposition parties
No concessions until Musk starts manufacturing unit
Apparently, Elon Musk wants to use India’s consumer market for selling his car. He wants to keep producing his cars in other countries like China and then wants India to import these manufactured vehicles. He has asked the Indian government to cut import duties in order to make his vehicle cheaper in Indian markets.
Read more: Tesla is falling apart and Elon Musk’s failing genius streak is the reason
Adding that manufacturing in China and selling in India is not possible under the Modi government, Gurjar said, “Under Modi government, it cannot happen that jobs are in China while the market is India… The government’s policy is that if the market is India, then people in India should get jobs”
Tesla needs to choose one between India and China
Modi government has time and again made it clear that Tesla can sell their car in India only when fellow Indians will benefit from Car’s manufacturing. As reported by the TFI, In October 2021, Nitin Gadkari had also assured Tesla of every kind of support on the condition that they will establish manufacturing plants in India.
Read more: Tesla can sell cars in India only if it manufactures cars in India, Nitin Gadkari makes it clear
On the other hand, Musk’s love affair with China does not seem to end. After setting up its factory in Shanghai in 2019, Tesla has currently ramped up its production facilities to produce more than 2,50,000 cars per year. In 2020, the Chinese market accounted for 21 per cent of Tesla’s vehicle sales revenue, second after the United States. Elon Musk even donated 5 million Yuan to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to help them in fighting Covid-19.
Read more: Tesla’s despicable move shows Elon Musk’s toxic love affair with China is still on
Provide us jobs, sell your products
India is currently running a massive Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India campaigns. The target is to set up more and more manufacturing units in India, which would make it possible for India’s young workforce to gain as many jobs as possible.
To fulfil this mission, the Modi government has launched a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme. Under this scheme, companies having manufacturing units in India get benefits only when they complete a certain target of production. Incentives worth Rs 26,058 crores have been allotted for the Electric vehicle segment, the segment in which Tesla manufactures its cars.
Pre-2014, businesses were not willing to invest in India due to corruption and policy paralysis. It is a testament to PM Modi’s amalgamation of economic vision with nationalistic fervor that we are rejecting offers from one of the world’s most famous car makers.
