‘FIRST’ Make in India: Center to Elon Musk

Sudheer Goutham
IndiGlobal Media Bureau

Giving out a loud message to the foreign companies that are looking at India as their market, Central Government made it clear that ‘Make in India’ is the priority

There cannot be a situation where India is the market and jobs are created in China, which is the manufacturing PowerHouse of the World.

Center makes it clear to US based EV giant Tesla that relaxation on import taxes will not be made unless it participates in manufacturing activity in India.

Last year Tesla founder Elon Musk sought reduction in Import Duty. However, the EV giant has not submitted any firm proposal of manufacturing in India

The Ministry of Heavy Industries asked Tesla to start manufacturing its iconic EV in India before any tax concession could be considered.

“This will bring the latest technology in India, local production of auto parts and the manufacturing in India besides generating local employment,” said Krishna Pal Gurja, MoS, Power & Heavy Industries.

The Ministry was replying to the question raised by the Congress MP Suresh whether the government would be allowing the US based EV giant in India.

The Indian government has been proactive in promoting adoption of Electric Vehicles and building an EV Ecosystem in the country.

Centre offers sops under the national FAME-II scheme, and providing further impetus to the transition are individual state EV policies, which make EVs even more affordable.

So far over 115 companies have applied under the EV schemes out of which 65 are from India and remaining are foreign companies, stated Ministry of Heavy Industries

Elon Musk sparked a controversy by replying to Twitterati on Tesla’s India launch.

Following which the state governments of Telangana, West Bengal and Maharashtra invited the EV giant independently to invest in the respective states.