Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, revealed that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been urging the car manufacturer to make a substantial investment in the country. Musk made these comments following a meeting with Modi during the Prime Minister’s state visit to the United States. It is expected that an official announcement regarding Tesla’s investment in India will be made soon.

According to a source, Musk had plans to discuss the establishment of a manufacturing base in India with Modi. Musk acknowledged that India holds great potential for a sustainable energy future, including solar power, stationary battery packs, and electric vehicles. He expressed his intention to bring SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service to India as well.

During an interview with ANI, Musk stated, “He (Modi) really cares about India because he’s pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something we intend to do.” India’s foreign ministry confirmed that Modi invited Tesla to explore investment opportunities in the country’s electric mobility and commercial space sectors. Musk expressed confidence that Tesla would establish a presence in India at the earliest opportunity.

Musk also expressed his admiration for Modi and revealed his plans to visit India next year. Modi, in a tweet, expressed his gratitude for the meeting with Musk, describing it as a multifaceted conversation covering various topics ranging from energy to spirituality.

Tesla executives recently visited India and engaged in discussions with Indian government officials and ministers regarding the establishment of manufacturing facilities for cars and batteries in the country. Musk had previously stated that Tesla would likely select a location for a new factory by the end of the year, and he highlighted India as an interesting prospect for such an expansion.

The desire to reduce reliance on China as a manufacturing base, amidst tensions between the United States and China, has prompted US companies to explore alternative locations. Tesla had previously put its plans to enter the Indian market on hold due to high import tax structures. However, with renewed interest and support from the Indian government, Tesla is once again considering establishing a presence in India.

The meeting between Modi and Musk took place shortly after Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey accused India of threatening to shut down the platform for not complying with content takedown orders during a 2020-2021 protest. However, Musk distanced himself from the controversy and commented that Twitter, like any other platform, must adhere to local government laws or risk being shut down.