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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk renewed their commitment to strengthening US-India collaboration in technology and innovation during a high-level call, signaling revived momentum for strategic investments in sectors like electric vehicles and satellite internet.
In a renewed effort to bolster ties between the United States and India in the fields of technology and innovation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Thursday. This discussion continues the dialogue that began during their in-person meeting in Washington D.C. earlier in 2024.
“Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year,” Modi posted on social media platform X. “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.”
The timing of the conversation is strategically aligned with ongoing high-level trade talks between the two nations. A senior Indian delegation is set to visit Washington next week to negotiate further trade and investment opportunities, particularly in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles (EVs), and satellite internet services.
Earlier in the week, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with senior Starlink executives, including Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight. Their discussions covered Starlink’s global deployments and its interest in expanding operations in India—a market that had earlier posed regulatory challenges for the satellite internet provider.
In 2021, Starlink faced a significant setback in India after the government ordered the company to halt its services and refund customers, citing the lack of required telecom licenses. Despite initial bookings and payments from Indian consumers, the company had not secured formal approval from the Department of Telecommunications.
Musk’s previously planned visit to India in April 2023 was cancelled, officially due to “heavy Tesla obligations.” However, reports also hinted at unresolved policy concerns as a contributing factor. His last significant engagement with Indian leadership took place during PM Modi’s June 2024 visit to the United States, where Musk publicly praised Modi’s vision and commitment.
Since then, Elon Musk has shown a growing interest in India’s rapidly evolving digital and industrial sectors. Tesla’s potential EV manufacturing plans and Starlink’s efforts to reach underserved and remote regions through satellite internet both underscore the strategic importance of the Indian market to Musk’s global ambitions.
Thursday’s call signals that diplomatic and business relations are again gaining traction. With India striving to establish itself as a global innovation and manufacturing hub, and Musk’s companies seeking regulatory clarity and new opportunities, the coming months may prove crucial for turning high-level dialogue into on-ground deployment.
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