Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, reaffirming mutual interest in strengthening collaboration between India and the United States in the areas of technology and innovation. The conversation comes at a time when Tesla is reportedly exploring opportunities to enter the Indian electric vehicle market.

The two discussed a wide range of topics, building upon their earlier meeting in Washington DC this year. The conversation highlighted the growing synergy between India's rapidly evolving tech ecosystem and Musk's ventures in cutting-edge innovation.

Sharing details of the interaction on X, PM Modi wrote, "Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains."

PM Modi met Elon Musk in February this year, during his two-day visit to the US. The SpaceX CEO was accompanied by his three children - X, Strider and Azure. During the meeting, Elon Musk gifted PM Modi a Starship hexagonal heatshield tile.

The PM's telephonic conversation with Elon Musk comes amid reports that Tesla is preparing to enter the Indian market by shipping a few thousand cars to a port near Mumbai in the coming months. According to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter, the US electric vehicle giant is planning to begin sales in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore by the third quarter of this year.

Tesla's anticipated debut in India also aligns with ongoing discussions between New Delhi and Washington over import tariffs, which are likely to shape the carmaker's long-term strategy in the country. The move follows renewed momentum in Tesla's India plans, sparked by PM Modi's earlier in-person meeting with Musk in Washington. Since then, the company has reportedly begun hiring for roles related to showrooms and deliveries.

Source: India Today