Elon Musk, via his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has disclosed plans to visit India for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although no specific date has been provided. Anticipated during this visit are significant investment announcements by the Tesla CEO in the country, especially following recent cuts in import taxes on electric vehicles (EV) for global automakers committing to investing $500 million and initiating local production within three years.

Previously, in 2021, Musk had cited India's high import duties as a barrier to Tesla's entry into the rapidly growing Indian market. Expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming meeting, Musk wrote, "Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India!" Scheduled for the last week of April, the meeting is set to take place at Modi's official residence in New Delhi.

The discussions are expected to center around Tesla's plans for local manufacturing in India, a topic of keen interest given the country's burgeoning EV market and the government's efforts to promote sustainable transportation solutions. While Tesla has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the visit, the timing coincides with India's ongoing elections, with Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) widely anticipated to secure a third term in power.

An investment announcement by Tesla during this period could bolster Modi's reputation as a business-friendly leader, particularly as he has actively courted foreign companies to establish manufacturing operations in India. Last June, during a meeting in New York, Musk acknowledged Modi's efforts in encouraging significant investments in India.

Tesla's expansion into India comes at a crucial juncture for the company, amidst declining sales in key markets like the US and China. Challenges such as a fire at its European factory, global shipping disruptions, and intensified competition have led to a decline in deliveries in the first quarter of this year. Despite price cuts to counter competition, Tesla's shares have experienced a significant downturn since the beginning of the year.

Nevertheless, India's growing economy and the surge in the manufacturing sector present a promising opportunity for Tesla to establish a foothold in the Indian market, thereby contributing to its global growth strategy.