K'taka govt invites Tesla to invest in State

NT Correspondent Bengaluru

The Karnataka government on Friday invited Tesla Inc, the world's largest electric car maker, to invest in the state, saying it is the ideal destination for the company's expansion into India, and that the authorities here are ready to support the company and its ventures and provide the necessary facilities.

Tesla said earlier this week that it is looking to make a significant investment in India. After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US, Tesla chief Elon Musk said he saw India as holding more promise than any other large country around the globe.

He said he plans to pay a visit to the country in 2024. State Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said if Tesla considers setting up a plant in India, Karnataka, with its great potential and capabilities, is "The Destination".

As a progressive state and a thriving hub of innovation and techn o l o g y , Karnataka stands ready to suppor t and provide the necessary facilities for Tesla and other ventures of Musk, including Starlink (a low Earth orbit satellite internet provider), the minister said.