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The electric carmaker plans to launch in India in 2021, but not until later this year, CEO Elon Musk tweeted.
Tesla Inc will come to India early next year, the country’s Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told the national daily Indian Express on Monday.
The electric car maker will start with sales and could then move into assembly and manufacturing depending on the response, Minister told the newspaper.
Tesla and the minister’s office could not be contacted by Reuters for comment.
India has been keen to reduce its dependence on oil and cut pollution, but its efforts to promote electric vehicles have been hampered by a lack of investment in manufacturing and infrastructure such as charging stations.
The first model to be launched will be the Model 3, the cheapest among Tesla vehicles, with prices starting at over $ 74,739 (5.5 million Indian rupees), according to a report in the Economic Times on Saturday.
CEO Elon Musk confirmed India’s foray into 2021 on Sunday in a response on Twitter, but said that would not happen in January.
In October, the government of Maharashtra invited Tesla to the state, weeks after Musk suggested entering the country next year.
Shares of the electric car maker rose 2% in pre-market trading.
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