New Delhi: Barely a week after he cited “Tesla obligations” for cancelling his India visit, Tesla chief Elon Musk on Sunday (April 28) arrived in China.
Musk, among the top ten richest persons in the world according to Forbes, was scheduled to visit India on April 21 and 22. He was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India was fully prepared to receive Musk, and his meeting with Modi would definitely have had an impact on the prime minister’s brand amid the ongoing election.
The government’s preparedness and excitement could be seen in the telecom ministry’s granting of an in-principal approval to Musk’s company, Starlink, for satellite communications service in India – which is just one step away from starting its services in India. This is part of the licence allocation process. The GMPCS, or global mobile personal communication by satellite services, licence, is the first step toward setting up a satellite internet service.
Currently, India has given the GMPCS licence to only Mukesh Ambani’s Jio and Sunil Mittal-backed One Web.
However, Reuters reported on Sunday that Musk arrived in China in an unannounced visit. He was expected to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving software and permission to transfer data overseas, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
He met Premier Li Qiang in Beijing.
“Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang. We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days,” Musk posted on X, on April 28.
Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang.
AdvertisementWe have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days. pic.twitter.com/JCnv6MbZ6W
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 28, 2024
Musk, however, aims to reschedule the India visit for later this year, Reuters reported.
“Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year,” Musk posted on X, on April 20.
