Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu will aggressively pitch itself as a manufacturing site for Tesla Inc. as speculation builds about the US company’s planned investments ahead of billionaire Elon Musk’s visit.
“Tamil Nadu will be pitching for all opportunities of electric vehicle manufacturing from all global car majors,” T RB Rajaa, the state’s minister for industries said, when asked if Tesla was on his radar. He added that the province, often called the Detroit of India for its automaking prowess, has country’s “best electric vehicle policies and ecosystem.”
Tesla’s Chief Executive Officer is set to visit India and meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month. Luring investment from the EV giant will bolster Modi’s credentials — as well as the state’s where any plant may be set up — as being business friendly and in favor of creating jobs.
Chennaiis wooing Tesla considering it’s already home to the manufacturing facilities of Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA, Hyundai Motor Co. and BMW AG and the auto parts supply chains that feed them. But it’ll face stiff competition from other Indian states that are also petitioning Musk.
