New Delhi, April 18, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a pivotal phone call with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Thursday, exploring deeper collaboration in technology and innovation, building on their June 2023 New York meeting. The conversation, confirmed by Modi’s office, focused on Tesla’s India entry, Starlink’s satellite internet rollout, and xAI’s potential, positioning India as a tech hub amid Trump’s 245% US-China tariff war (Hindustan Times).
“India’s ready for bold partnerships,” Modi told Musk, per sources, eyeing Tesla’s $2-3 billion factory in Maharashtra or Gujarat, set to break ground by July (The Indian Express). Starlink, aiming for 2025 trials, could bridge India’s 40% rural internet gap—1 crore homes targeted (The Hindu). Musk, calling Modi a “fan” in 2023, praised India’s 90 crore digital users and $20 billion EV market (Times of India). X posts buzz—“Tesla’s coming!”—but some warn: “Local jobs or just hype?” (post:2).
The call’s timing is no fluke—India’s 10% US tariff pause gives leverage, unlike China’s trade choke (Reuters). Tesla’s Pune plant could churn 5 lakh EVs yearly, slashing 100% import duties (Economic Times). xAI’s Grok, rivaling ChatGPT, may tap India’s 5 lakh AI engineers (Business Standard). “Musk sees India as China’s pivot,” a Delhi analyst told NDTV. Yet, 2024’s 15% EV adoption lag—versus China’s 40%—demands infra push (IEA).
For India’s 140 crore dreamers, it’s a tech leap—Modi’s “Viksit Bharat” needs Musk’s spark. Will this deal reshape India, or stall in red tape?
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