Tesla Chief Prefers to Visit Indonesia as Top Indian Ministers Fail to Impress Him

NEW DELHI, (IANS) -Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has decided to visit Indonesia in November this year, as he reportedly wraps up Tesla operations in India amid continuous requests from top ministers and senior politicians to come and manufacture electric cars in the country.

The Indonesian government wants Musk to set up a world-class electric batteries industry as the country has vast nickel reserves.

Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo met Musk in Starbase, SpaceX’s rocket production facility, test site, and spaceport in Boca Chica, TX, and invited him to come to Indonesia.

According to Jakarta Globe, Musk admitted that he is very much interested in the future of Indonesia, which he feels has “great potential” for some collaboration with Tesla and SpaceX.

“Musk also mentioned Indonesia’s large population and consistent economic growth as factors that make him interested in the most populous country in Southeast Asia, the report said.

Tesla has been aggressive in sourcing nickel for its electric vehicle batteries.

Meanwhile, ministers in India, especially Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, keep on making requests to the Tesla CEO to come and manufacture electric cars in India.

From Telangana Minister for Industries, KT Rama Rao, to Maharashtra Minister and state NCP President Jayant Patil, several Indian leaders have made repeated appeals to Musk to bring Tesla to India, but to no avail.

Musk had said that he faced challenges from the government for releasing its products in India.