Elon Musk and PM Modi connect over a phone call, reinforcing mutual commitment to innovation and deepening US–India tech ties as Tesla eyes Indian markets.
BY PC Bureau
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Elon Musk spoke over the phone on Friday, reaffirming their shared interest in deeper cooperation between India and the United States on technology and innovation. The conversation comes amid mounting speculation that Tesla is preparing for its long-awaited entry into the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market.
This latest exchange builds on their previous in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. Their dialogue underscored growing alignment between India’s thriving tech ambitions and Musk’s futuristic ventures.
PM Modi shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains.”
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Musk had met the Prime Minister during his U.S. visit in February, where he was joined by his children—X, Strider, and Azure—and presented Modi with a Starship heatshield tile as a gift.
JUST IN: 🇮🇳🇱🇷 PM MODI TALKED TO TESLA BOSS ELON MUSK, SAID THERE IS A BIG CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER pic.twitter.com/Relu8m4hDC
— cryptonary pro (@cryptonary_pr0) April 18, 2025
The timing of the call is significant. Tesla is reportedly planning to ship a few thousand vehicles to a port near Mumbai in the coming months, targeting a soft launch in major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore by Q3 of this year, according to Bloomberg sources.
Tesla’s India plans come amid ongoing negotiations between New Delhi and Washington regarding import duties—a key factor in shaping the company’s long-term business model in the country. Since Modi’s meeting with Musk, Tesla has reportedly initiated hiring for showroom and delivery roles in India.
As Tesla inches closer to its India debut, this high-level conversation signals the deepening tech ties between the world’s largest democracies—and possibly the arrival of one of the most anticipated EV players in the Indian market.
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