In a fresh sign of deepening US-India ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday, reviving talks on innovation and expanding partnerships. Their conversation comes as market trends suggest a pivotal moment for both Tesla and Starlink in the Indian landscape.
Strategic Talks Around Innovation and Market Entry
PM Modi, taking to X (formerly Twitter), shared that his exchange with Musk covered technology, innovation, and key issues previously discussed during their Washington DC meeting. “India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains,” he posted.
This dialogue unfolds as the two nations negotiate a proposed bilateral trade agreement, with the first phase expected to wrap up by fall. Elon Musk’s companies—Tesla in electric mobility and Starlink in satellite internet—are positioning themselves to ride the wave of India’s digital and auto market expansion.
Starlink’s Push Into India’s Satellite Internet Space
Starlink, the satellite internet arm of SpaceX, is making a bold move into India. Earlier this week, Union Minister Piyush Goyal met with Starlink executives including VP Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight to discuss regulatory pathways. The company is awaiting spectrum policy clarity and security clearances.
Meanwhile, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have also inked deals with SpaceX to bring Starlink services to India. The government has already granted licenses to Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications, though spectrum allocation rules remain pending.
| Company | Satellites in Orbit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink (SpaceX) | 6,750+ | Awaiting policy clarity |
| Eutelsat OneWeb | 600+ | Licensed, not yet operational |
| Jio Satellite Partners | ~70 | Licensed, not yet operational |
Tesla’s Renewed Plans for the Indian Auto Market
Elon Musk’s EV giant Tesla is also accelerating efforts to enter India’s auto sector—one of the world’s fastest-growing. The company recently posted job openings in the Mumbai Suburban region for roles spanning sales, service, operations, and customer engagement.
According to reports, Tesla has zeroed in on locations for showrooms in New Delhi’s Aerocity and Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex. Although launch dates haven’t been finalized, industry watchers expect Tesla’s entry to spark a fresh bank rally in auto stocks and further influence Nifty performance as market sentiment shifts.
Notably, Tesla’s entry strategy includes a budget-friendly EV priced under $25,000 (approx. ₹22 lakh), tailored for India’s competitive auto market.