Opening arguments have begun in the trial of former US President Donald Trump, who is charged with incitement of insurrection for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. The trial is taking place in the Senate, with House impeachment managers presenting their case against Trump. [95ca2756]
Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss Tesla's plans to enter the Indian market. Musk expressed his enthusiasm for the Indian market and discussed the potential for Tesla to manufacture electric vehicles in India. The meeting comes as Modi seeks a third term in office in elections starting later this month. Musk is expected to announce his investment plans for the country, including setting up a manufacturing facility. He will also discuss Starlink, the satellite business owned by his company SpaceX, during the meeting. The Indian government may grant conditional approval for Starlink to operate in the country, with conditions including data routing and sharing restrictions. [95ca2756]
In a recent development, Elon Musk took to Twitter to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election win and his third term as India's head of state. Musk expressed optimism about performing "exciting work" through his enterprises in India. Global leaders have also congratulated Modi on his victory. Musk reiterated his strong interest in the Indian market and has high expectations for his businesses, Starlink and Tesla, in India. Tesla plans to open a manufacturing unit in India to capitalize on the country's automotive market. Starlink's satellite internet services have the potential to transform connectivity in India. Musk's business endeavors in India could spark advances in technology and the economy. The US and India's economic alliance may be strengthened by forging stronger corporate links. India is poised for rapid economic and technical development with the support of world leaders. [d55d90ec]
However, according to a recent report by the South China Morning Post, Elon Musk's team has not made any further inquiries with officials in India after he postponed a visit to the country in April. India does not expect Tesla to move forward with an investment in the country any time soon. The loss of interest in India comes as Tesla reported a second consecutive drop in quarterly deliveries globally and faces heightened competition in China. Representatives from India's Ministry of Heavy Industries and other ministries did not respond to requests for comment. Instead, India's government is pinning its hopes on domestic carmakers to boost EV production. India's EV market is in its infancy, with battery-powered cars accounting for just 1.3% of the total last year. [fe4794a2] [95ca2756]
In another development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the world's most followed leader on the social media platform 'X' with over 100 million followers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk congratulated PM Modi on achieving this feat. PM Modi's X handle has seen an impressive growth of approximately 30 million users in the last three years. He is the second most popular politician on X, after former US President Barack Obama. PM Modi also has nearly 25 million subscribers on YouTube and over 91 million followers on Instagram. [8b2cc272]
On November 29, 2024, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India does not foresee issues with the incoming Donald Trump administration, calling Trump a friend. Goyal noted that there are currently no discussions regarding Tesla or Starlink entering India, despite speculation that Musk may receive regulatory support under Trump. Earlier in 2024, Musk canceled his visit to India, impacting his plans for the Indian electric vehicle and broadband markets. Goyal emphasized the Modi government's intention to strengthen economic ties with the US under Trump 2.0. [67f9ed38]