In a statement that has sparked fresh optimism about Tesla’s entry into India, Errol Musk, father of tech magnate Elon Musk, has confidently predicted that a Tesla manufacturing plant in the country is only a matter of time. During his visit to New Delhi on Monday, Errol voiced strong belief in the mutual interests of India and Tesla aligning soon — with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his son Elon Musk expected to reach common ground.
“I have no doubt there will be a Tesla plant in India,” Errol Musk told IANS during an interaction in the national capital. “India is one of the most important places in the world right now. There has to be a Tesla plant here.”Though speaking in a personal capacity, the 79-year-old South African entrepreneur emphasized the strategic sensibility of such a move.
“Prime Minister Modi will look at what’s best for India, and Elon will look at what benefits Tesla as a company. Between them, I believe they’ll work out something mutually advantageous,” he said. Errol’s visit to India comes in his capacity as Global Advisor to Servotech Power Systems Ltd, an Indian renewable energy firm. His presence underscores growing international interest in India’s booming green tech and electric vehicle (EV) sector.
India’s EV Drive Gathers Momentum
India has laid out ambitious targets for EV adoption by 2030:
- 30% penetration for passenger vehicles
- 70% for commercial vehicles
- 80% for two-wheelers and three-wheelers
With Tesla eyeing global expansion and India representing one of the largest untapped EV markets, the synergy appears natural — though not yet confirmed officially.
Earlier in April, Elon Musk and PM Modi engaged in a dialogue on deepening collaboration in technology and innovation. Elon later shared on X (formerly Twitter), “It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I look forward to visiting India later this year.”
PM Modi echoed the sentiment: “We discussed topics we previously covered in Washington DC, including India’s potential for innovation and cooperation in emerging technologies.”
Tesla Plant? Or Just Showrooms?
However, not all signals point to immediate manufacturing.
Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated on Monday that while major players like Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen have expressed interest in manufacturing EVs in India, Tesla’s current plans may be more modest. “We’re not expecting manufacturing from Tesla at this stage,” the minister said. “They are primarily looking to open showrooms for now.”
Still, Errol Musk’s remarks add a new layer of intrigue and hope. Coming from someone closely connected to Tesla’s origin and vision, his statements may not be official—but they are far from insignificant.
As India aggressively pushes for a cleaner, tech-driven future, all eyes now turn to whether Tesla will finally park itself on Indian soil—not just with showrooms, but with factories.
