NEW DELHI, April 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to discuss a range of topics, notably the potential for collaboration in the fields of technology and innovation between India and the United States.
“Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains,” PM Modi posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The conversation follows a previous in-person meeting between Modi and Musk during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in February this year. Reflecting on that meeting, Modi had earlier stated, “Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology, and innovation. I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.’”
In a separate post, Modi also shared candid photographs from the Washington meeting, featuring Elon Musk’s children. “It was also a delight to meet Mr. Elon Musk’s family and to talk about a wide range of subjects!” he wrote.
The latest conversation between Modi and Musk comes amid strong speculation that Tesla is on the verge of entering the Indian market. This development is taking place alongside ongoing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States.
Currently, Starlink—owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX—is awaiting a regulatory license to operate in India. The process is pending the finalization of new government guidelines regarding spectrum pricing.
Scindia affirmed that any firm, including Starlink, is welcome to apply for a license as long as it abides by Indian regulatory norms.
Starlink, the satellite internet venture by SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed internet access globally. SpaceX itself is known for groundbreaking achievements, including sending astronauts to and from the International Space Station and executing the world’s first all-civilian orbital spaceflight mission.
