After Once Canceling India Trip, Elon Now Set To Visit Amid Business Setbacks

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Elon Musk is now planning to visit India later this year, marking a renewed push into a key global market after previously canceling a much-anticipated trip that had been touted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The visit, flagged by Musk in a post on April 19, comes at a turbulent time for the billionaire’s empire.

Musk was scheduled to travel to India a year ago but postponed the trip at the last minute, citing urgent matters at Tesla. The delay was seen as a setback for India’s efforts to woo global EV players.

Now, as his companies face mounting pressures—ranging from declining Tesla sales and intensifying competition to political entanglements and regulatory fights—India represents both an opportunity and a test.

Once a darling of climate-conscious buyers, Tesla now faces backlash from parts of that demographic due to Musk’s increasing alignment with Donald Trump who has often expressed disdain for EVs. The shift has left the company more reliant on a conservative base that historically hasn’t embraced EVs. Meanwhile, U.S.-China tariff tensions are hitting Tesla’s bottom line hard.

India, with its growing middle class and government-backed push for clean mobility, is a logical next market. Yet, negotiations have repeatedly stalled over import tariffs and Musk’s reluctance to commit to local manufacturing, Bloomberg News said.

Beyond Tesla, Musk is also expanding his footprint in India through Starlink. The satellite internet venture has announced partnerships with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, aiming to provide rural connectivity in line with India’s digital inclusion goals.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg noted that Musk’s social media platform X is embroiled in legal battles with the Indian government over content moderation.