According to foreign media reports, three people familiar with Tesla’s plans said that the company has begun to produce right-hand rudder cars at its factory in Germany, and it is expected that these vehicles will be exported to India later this year.
According to two of them, a team of Tesla is expected to visit India later this month to inspect the location of the plant.
Tesla will need to invest about $2 billion to build a factory in India.
Tesla is looking for sites to build factories in Tamil Nadu in the south, Maharashtra in the west and Gujarat in the west, and the new plant is expected to be completed within two years, according to sources.
Photo source: Tesla, another source said that Tesla’s plan to enter India also includes an investment in the local charging network, which is not included in the company’s US $2 billion earmarked for building a factory.
Tesla’s India plan also includes purchasing more parts locally.
“Tesla has already started purchasing parts from India and is considering reducing purchases from China to make India a bigger purchasing center,” the person said.
” Tesla has already started producing right-hand rudder cars for sale in India, said a person familiar with the matter.
” He also pointed out that some vehicles will be shipped to India by the end of this year.
It is not clear which model Tesla plans to export to India, but so far the company has only produced the Model Y at its German plant.
India lowered import taxes on some electric vehicles last month on the condition that car companies invest at least $500 million in India and start production within three years.
The move is good news for Tesla, who lobbied the Indian government for months to lower tax rates but was boycotted by local carmakers.
Under India’s new policy, companies can import up to 8000 cars a year at a lower tax rate.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tesla has been watching the Indian market for years.
Executives of the company have visited India several times in the past year, and Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York last June.
Tesla’s foray into India comes as demand for electric cars in its main US and Chinese markets slows and competition from Chinese companies intensifies, causing Tesla’s first-quarter delivery to fall short of expectations.
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