US President Donald Trump during a press conference was asked about the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Trump while responding to the question replied, ‘’I don’t know; they met.’’ He further added, ‘’I assume he wants to do business in India.’’ His comments have raised speculations about Musk’s growing interest in the Indian market.
Trump, while replying to Musk’s potential business interests in India, accepted the complexities involved in it. He pointed out, ‘’It is hard to do business in India.’’ This statement highlights the challenges faced by foreign companies especially because of India’s high tariff policy and regulations.
Shortly after meeting Musk, PM Modi posted on social media X, ‘’Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington, DC. We talked about several issues, including those he is keen about like space, technology, mobility, and innovation. I also underlined India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.’’
The meeting has been viewed as a strategic move in building India’s technological collaborations with global leaders. Musk is famous for his ambitious ventures in space, mobility, and artificial intelligence. He has earlier also shown interest in expanding Tesla’s presence in India.
Despite these hindrances, India continues to be an attractive market for global investors because of its rapid economic growth and policy reforms. The Modi government is actively working on creating a more business-friendly environment, with a main focus on technology and innovation.
Musk, who has also long been in favour of reducing the tariff structure for Tesla’s electric vehicles in India, has also been in talks with Indian officials regarding exporting low-cost EV models in the country. He has hinted that Tesla is willing to expand its footprint in India on the condition that the government reduces import duties.
Moreover, ANI reports suggest that Musk may have also talked about a potential collaboration between SpaceX and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Given India’s growing space programs and SpaceX’s dominance in commercial spaceflight, a partnership between the two boosts India’s private space sector.