Keypoints:
- The Minister has spoken to the management of Tesla and has assured them that the government will help them to set up industrial clusters in India.
- Gadkari was speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2021.
- Tesla has set up a subsidiary in Bengaluru and is expected to launch its operations in India this year.
- Government has planned to set up integrated vehicle scrapping facilities across india. The vehicles will undergo a fitness test in the facilities.
On April 15, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that he has urged electric vehicle maker “Tesla” to begin production of electric vehicles in India as soon as possible. Gadkari was speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2021 in which he said that he has spoken to the management of Tesla. He has assured them that the government will support them to set up industrial clusters in India.
Gadkari has also told Tesla that they are free to develop their own vendors and export vehicles from India. Tesla has outlined that it will first start marketing it’s vehicles in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, said the Minister. He also added that the company has not given any assurance for the commencement of vehicle production in India. Tesla, the world’s biggest electric car maker has set up subsidiary in Bengaluru and is expected to launch its operations in India this year.
“I will suggest them (Tesla) that it will be golden opportunity for them to start manufacturing facility in India because as the automobile components are concerned, already Tesla is taking a lot of components from the Indian manufacturers. So there will be availability,” the minister said.
“So in the interest of Tesla, I suggest them that you start manufacturing as early as possible. It will be beneficial for you,” Gadkari said.”They can export a lot of vehicles from India and as compared with the other countries, it will be economically viable,” the minister said.
“It is good for them (Tesla). I request them and suggest them but it is up to them to decide about it. But meanwhile, within two years whatever the e-vehicles we are getting into the market from Indian companies, they will be up to the mark of Tesla,” he asserted.
Gadkari has also said that the rule book for vehicle scrapping centres will be unveiled soon. Some Indian manufacturers were in the process of setting up such kind of units in the country.
While addressing the session at Raisina Dialogue, Nitin Gadkari said that Tesla is already sourcing various auto components from Indian automakers and setting up base here would be economically viable for it.
Earlier, Maharashtra government had said that it is looking for potential investment from Tesla in the state and has held discussions with the company.
