Tesla Factory In India? ‘Unfair to US,’ Donald Trump Tells Elon

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump has criticized the possibility of Tesla establishing a factory in India to bypass the country’s tariffs, calling it “unfair” to the United States during an interview with Fox News that aired on February 18.

According to Reuters, Tesla has already identified potential showroom locations in New Delhi and Mumbai and has posted job listings for 13 mid-level positions in India. However, the company has yet to manufacture any vehicles in the country.

Trump had highlighted India’s high tariffs on cars during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the U.S., though both leaders agreed to work toward an early trade deal to ease tariff-related tensions.

Trump argued that selling a Tesla in India under the current tariff structure is nearly “impossible.” “Every country in the world takes advantage of us, and they do it with tariffs… It is impossible to sell a car, practically, in, as an example, India,” he stated.

In response, India introduced a new EV policy in March, significantly reducing import duties to 15%—provided automakers invest at least $500 million and commit to building a factory in the country.

Trump reiterated that if Tesla were to open a factory in India, it would put the U.S. at a disadvantage. “Now, if he built the factory in India, that’s okay, but that’s unfair to us. It’s very unfair,” he said in the interview.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long objected to India’s import duties, which stand at nearly 100% for electric vehicles, benefiting domestic manufacturers such as Tata Motors in what is now the world’s third-largest auto market. Despite India’s EV sector being in its early stages, Musk has been vocal about the challenges of entering the market.