Tesla To Meet Indian Officials As China Fumes At BYD Plant Rejection

NEW DELHI, (IANS) – Representatives from Elon Musk-Tesla are reportedly expected to meet Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal as early as this month to chalk out a facility to build Rs 20 lakh electric car, as China fumes at New Delhi rejecting BYD Group’s bid to build a $1 billion facility.

According to a Reuters report, citing sources, the meeting with Goyal will be the highest-level one since Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US last month and said he plans to bring Tesla to India as soon as humanly possible.

Tesla has yet to comment on the report.

Meanwhile, as the government gears up to welcome Musk’s Tesla, the Centre has reportedly rejected Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD Motors’ plan to set up a $1 billion four-wheeler manufacturing facility in the country.

According to the Chinese state-run Global Times, if India treats Tesla and BYD differently, “won’t it be utter discrimination against China?”

In an opinion piece, the newspaper said that it is hoped that “India will not be politically biased against Chinese investment, refrain from setting invisible entry barriers for Chinese manufacturers under the disguise of protecting economic security”.

In recent years, India has intensified its assault on Chinese companies, which analysts said was “blunt bullying and the theft of Chinese companies’ achievements under the disguise of so-called posing security threats”.

“India’s efforts to provide a good business environment for international investment and to continuously attract global companies will be an empty promise,” said the publication.