‘Discussed the immense potential for collaboration’: PM Modi speaks to Elon Musk

By | April 18, 2025

‘Discussed the Immense Potential for Collaboration’: PM Modi Speaks to Elon Musk

New Delhi/Washington, April 18 – In a significant development that hints at deepening ties between India and global tech giants, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, reaffirming their shared vision for innovation-led collaboration. The talk, held virtually, revolved around areas such as electric vehicles (EVs), space technology, renewable energy, and AI.

Prime Minister Modi described the conversation as “insightful” and noted that both leaders recognized the immense potential for collaboration between India and Musk’s various ventures. The interaction comes at a time when India is making bold strides in electric mobility, satellite tech, and AI governance, while Musk continues to expand Tesla’s and SpaceX’s global footprint.

A Renewed Focus on Electric Vehicles

During their discussion, PM Modi emphasized India’s aggressive push toward clean energy and electric mobility, highlighting government incentives, expanding infrastructure, and a growing market eager for EV adoption. Elon Musk, who has previously expressed interest in bringing Tesla to India, reportedly responded positively.

India, with its population of over 1.4 billion and an expanding middle class, presents a massive market opportunity for Tesla. Although Tesla has yet to launch operations in India, Musk had earlier cited concerns over import duties. However, recent policy changes aimed at encouraging foreign EV investment could pave the way for Tesla’s entry.

“PM Modi and Elon Musk discussed how Tesla could play a pivotal role in India’s EV revolution, especially in manufacturing and battery development,” a senior official familiar with the meeting shared.

Exploring Space Collaboration

With India’s ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) gaining global recognition for cost-effective space missions, there’s growing enthusiasm around public-private partnerships in space exploration. PM Modi spoke about India’s expanding space sector and invited Musk to explore collaborations through SpaceX.

Musk, in turn, praised India’s achievements, particularly the success of Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. He also acknowledged India’s young talent pool in aerospace engineering, noting that SpaceX would be open to partnerships and investments in satellite internet and launch services.

This potential partnership could boost India’s ambitions in low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks, which are key to improving rural internet access and digital inclusion.

Renewable Energy and AI: The Future Frontiers

Another major point of discussion was the role of renewable energy and AI in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and is rapidly increasing its solar and wind power capacity. Modi invited Musk’s companies—particularly Tesla’s solar energy division and battery storage technologies—to explore investment and manufacturing in India.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, PM Modi stressed the importance of ethical and inclusive AI development. India is actively working on building AI governance frameworks that prioritize transparency and accountability, and Musk, known for his concerns about unchecked AI growth, echoed those sentiments.

“AI must serve humanity, not control it,” Musk reportedly said, aligning with Modi’s view of AI as a tool for social upliftment and inclusive growth.

A Bond Based on Innovation

This isn’t the first time PM Modi and Elon Musk have interacted. Their previous meeting during Modi’s U.S. visit in 2023 had already laid the groundwork for potential collaboration. At the time, Musk had spoken highly of Modi’s leadership, calling him “pro-innovation” and “open to bold ideas.”

This renewed conversation reinforces the mutual respect and shared interest in leveraging innovation to solve global challenges—from climate change to digital inequality.

Geopolitical and Economic Significance

This dialogue carries geopolitical weight as well. India is increasingly being seen as a viable alternative to China in global supply chains, especially in the tech and automotive sectors. With Western companies looking to diversify operations, India offers a combination of political stability, skilled labor, and favorable demographics.

For Musk, aligning more closely with India serves both business and strategic purposes. For India, partnering with globally influential tech leaders like Musk is a step toward becoming a global hub of innovation and advanced manufacturing.

What Comes Next?

While no formal agreements were announced following the conversation, insiders suggest that a joint task force or advisory panel could be formed to explore concrete avenues for collaboration. Talks are also likely to continue regarding Tesla’s manufacturing and charging infrastructure setup in India.

Musk is expected to visit India later this year, and speculation is rife that he could announce Tesla’s India entry or a SpaceX-backed satellite internet pilot.

Key Takeaways:

  • PM Modi and Elon Musk had a virtual meeting to discuss collaboration across tech, energy, and space sectors.
  • EVs, space exploration, renewable energy, and AI governance were primary focus areas.
  • The talk hints at future Tesla investment in India and potential partnerships with ISRO.
  • Musk and Modi share a vision of innovation that benefits humanity and drives sustainable progress.