Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said it was an “honour” to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and confirmed he is looking forward to visiting India later this year, fuelling speculation over Tesla and Starlink’s imminent entry into the Indian market.
“It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year,” Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The Prime Minister also shared details of their conversation on the platform, saying the two discussed topics first raised during their meeting in Washington DC earlier this year, including technology, mobility, and innovation.
“India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains,” said PM Modi.
The conversation comes amid increased momentum in India-US economic ties and heightened interest in Musk’s companies entering the Indian market. Tesla is reportedly finalising plans to establish a presence in the country, while Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, is in discussions with Indian authorities about regulatory clearance and local investment.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal this week met with a delegation from Starlink to discuss their expansion strategy.
“Discussions covered Starlink’s cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships, and future investment plans in India,” Goyal posted on X after the meeting with Starlink executives Chad Gibbs and Ryan Goodnight.
Musk and PM Modi first met in person during the Prime Minister’s US visit in February. After that meeting, Modi had posted: “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 lighter moment, PM Modi also shared photos of his interaction with Musk’s children, calling it a “delight”.
Musk’s planned visit later this year is expected to include high-level meetings and could coincide with key announcements related to Tesla’s manufacturing or sales plans, as well as regulatory progress on Starlink’s rollout in India.