Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal Opposes Musk Selling Cars In India
Bengaluru, 28th May 2022: Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has clapped back at Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.
Musk has said that a decision will be taken about its plant only after Tesla gets permission to sell its cars in India. Responding to this statement of Musk, Aggarwal tweeted, “Thanks, but no thanks”
Tesla had demanded the Indian government reduce the import duty, and even then Aggarwal opposed it. Aggarwal had said that we should rely on our capability of indigenous manufacturing and attract global OEMs for manufacturing in India and not just for imports.
Musk says that Tesla will not set up its manufacturing plant in any place where it has not previously been allowed to sell and service its cars.
Musk’s statement assumes significance as Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had asked Tesla to allow the sale of cars made in India. Gadkari had said in April that if Tesla is ready to produce its electric cars in India, it can sell them here.
India imposes heavy duty on the import of cars made abroad, due to which their price increases significantly. Tesla had demanded a cut in this import duty.
Musk had said in August last year that Tesla wanted to sell its vehicles in India, but it was subject to high import duties. Musk had said that if Tesla is successful in the Indian market, then he can think of setting up a manufacturing plant in India. Currently, India levies 100% duty on imports of cars made abroad worth more than $40,000.