## Tesla CEO Elon Musk Postpones India Visit
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has postponed his planned visit to India, citing heavy Tesla obligations requiring his presence in the US. The announcement came on April 20th, 2023, through a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The postponement clears speculation about the reason behind the delay. It is believed that Musk's visit coincides with a crucial conference call on April 23rd in the US, where he will answer questions about Tesla's first-quarter performance.
Musk was originally scheduled to visit India on April 21st and 22nd. During his visit, he was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans for Tesla's entry into the Indian market.
His visit garnered significant attention, especially following the Indian government's announcement of a new electric vehicle manufacturing policy just weeks prior. This policy allows the government to offer duty concessions to electric car companies that commit to manufacturing in India.
According to the earlier proposed plan, Musk would spend 48 hours in India, meeting with the Prime Minister, space startups, and business leaders. While there was buzz about initiating Tesla sales in India this year, Musk was also anticipated to engage with startups during his two-day visit.
“Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister @NarendraModi in India."
This was not the first time Musk had expressed interest in entering the Indian market. In June 2022, he met with Modi during the Prime Minister's US visit. Musk then said he planned to visit India in 2024, while expressing confidence that the company would enter the Indian market soon.
However, recent developments suggest that Tesla and Starlink's entry into India may be delayed further. Rohan Patel, who handled business development for Tesla, announced his departure via a post on X on April 15th. Patel was reportedly the key person who had been in touch with senior Indian officials on behalf of Tesla/Starlink.
Patel's departure raised concerns in some quarters in New Delhi, especially as the government was working on policy changes that could have enabled Starlink's business operations in India.
Adding to the uncertainty, the government notified amended rules under the Foreign Exchange Management Act on April 16th, allowing up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in some space sector activities.
With the latest developments, sources say Tesla and Starlink's entry into India is likely to take longer and may be resolved after the Lok Sabha elections are over.