Tesla ‘Giga India’ talks hit crucial hurdles

Posted on

Talks between Tesla and the Indian government have hit crucial hurdles, which could determine if the automaker invests in a production facility in the country.

Tesla’s need for a growing number of production facilities has only increased in recent months as it looks to grow its product offerings and the number of markets in which it operates. This has resulted in a worldwide search for a new facility location, which has taken Tesla CEO Elon Musk everywhere, from France to Indonesia. Now, as company representatives have reached India, talks with government officials have revealed some potential hurdles that could prevent the automaker from placing its next facility in the South Asian country.

According to a new report from Reuters, Tesla’s talks with Indian officials have focused on government policy regarding incentives for manufacturers and consumers in the country. Noting the complexity of the talks, a Tesla insider told Reuters that the company is still “testing the waters and trying to understand the local policies.”

As noted in the report, Tesla’s apparent plan to enter the Indian market through the placement of a production facility is a significant departure from its previous market entrance attempt, in which the automaker aimed to import vehicles to India. These plans were halted in 2019 as the company was unable to negotiate lower import tariffs, which can reach as high as 100% of a vehicle’s value. Surprisingly, at the time, top leaders, including Indian PM Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, were involved in the talks, unlike the current discussions.

Reuters reports that top supply chain executive Karn Budhiraj (seen below) heads the Tesla delegation, while the Indian government’s Electronics and Information Technology Ministry has been the primary point of contact. Specifically, Tesla has been in contact with the Indian Deputy State Minister of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Electronics, and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Credit: Tesla, Youtube

Neither Tesla nor the Indian government has addressed the talks publically, and Tesla has not revealed any specifications of the potential facility in India.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

Tesla ‘Giga India’ talks hit crucial hurdles

Source

Tesla Cybertruck production estimates revealed by Elon Musk

Posted on

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed the estimated production capacity the automaker will allocate to the highly anticipated Cybertruck.

As is typical for any Tesla event, the most interesting and exciting information shared at yesterday’s shareholder meeting came from the question and answer segment, in which shareholders inquired about everything from the Cybertruck to the Optimus robot project. During the Q&A segment, one of the most exciting pieces of information shared by the Tesla CEO was regarding Cybertruck production estimates.

During the final half-hour of the Q&A segment, Elon Musk revealed that Tesla could produce anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 Cybertrucks annually. However, it should be noted that no timeline was provided on when this would be achieved.

(Video begins at Cybertruck production estimate question)

As pointed out by the Tesla CEO numerous times, Cybertruck’s production hinges on a critical factor, demand. While it seems obvious that the Tesla Cybertruck will have an enormous amount of demand in the United States, which has long been a truck-dominated car market, the scale of that demand will quickly help determine the number of resources and funding made available for Cybertruck production.

Sadly, even with the upper estimate of 500,000 trucks produced per year, with well over 1 million estimated reservations, Cybertruck reservation holders are likely still in for a long wait before the vehicle gets to their driveway. However, with specifications and pricing due to be announced as soon as next quarter, it may be worth the wait.

Luckily, there is plenty of good news to go along with the potentially hampered production expectations. Most notably, with Tesla’s now extensive experience with production growth, the Cybertruck could achieve a production ramp unseen on any previous Tesla model. Moreover, with an all-new “exo-skeleton” confirmed to be coming on the truck, it could be far easier to produce than any truck in modern history.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

Tesla Cybertruck production estimates revealed by Elon Musk

Source

Tesla Cybertruck attachment points provide opportunities to other companies

Posted on

During the 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting, also known as the 2023 Cyber Roundup, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed that the Cybertruck would be optimized to support third-party accessories. Musk’s update came during the event’s Q&A session. 

When questions were opened for the audience at the event, a shareholder, who was dressed in a Texas-themed Optimus attire, asked if Tesla was looking to enter the RV market. Musk explained that while Tesla won’t be building an RV for now, the Cybertruck would be a pretty good vehicle that can be converted into an RV. 

To accomplish this, Elon Musk noted that Tesla is equipping the Cybertruck with several attachment points that could support third-party accessories. Musk did not elaborate on what these accessories would exactly be, though he stated that some of them could transform the Cybertruck into a camper of sorts. 

“We don’t have any plans to build an RV quite yet, although I can certainly see how Cybertruck could be converted into an RV. We are adding a lot of, sort of, attachment points to Cybertruck, so others can build things. (So) A startup or other companies can build things that are attachments that enhance Cybertruck and turn it into a camper essentially. Because I think it would be really cool to have these third-party things available for the Cybertruck,” Musk said. 

With Musk’s statement, the Cybertruck could become one of the most popular pickup trucks for third-party vehicle accessory makers. Being a pickup truck with a 6.5-foot bed, the Cybertruck could be equipped with a lot of creative modifications, from bed racks that are optimized for utility and work to campers that are optimized for recreation. It would definitely be interesting to see what types of accessories the Cybertruck would have, both from Tesla and third-party providers.

The Cybertruck’s accessories were highlighted recently when Tesla held the groundbreaking ceremony for its South Texas lithium refinery. During the event, Tesla brought over a Cybertruck prototype fitted with a bed rack that was carrying several “cyber-themed” shovels. The shovels were used by Tesla executives and Texas officials during the actual groundbreaking ceremony. 

Later reports from Tesla and SpaceX community members suggested that the Cybertruck prototype’s bed rack was custom-made for the South Texas lithium refinery groundbreaking event. Similar to Musk, Tesla executive Drew Baglino reportedly noted then that several Cybertruck accessories are under development.

The Teslarati team would appreciate hearing from you. If you have any tips, contact me at maria@teslarati.com or via Twitter @Writer_01001101.

Tesla Cybertruck attachment points provide opportunities to other companies

Source