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Tesla Eyes Battery Factory in India: Report

Powerwall is an integrated battery system that stores solar energy for backup protection when the grid goes down..reports Asian Lite News

Elon Musk-run Tesla is reportedly planning to build a factory for battery storage in India and has submitted a proposal for the same to the government.

According to a report in Reuters, citing sources, the electric car-maker proposed supporting the country’s battery storage capabilities with its “Powerwall” during recent meetings.

Powerwall is an integrated battery system that stores solar energy for backup protection when the grid goes down.

The system detects outages, powers your home and electric vehicle with backup energy and automatically recharges with sunlight to keep appliances running for days.

The government may help Tesla create a “fair business model for the company by offering subsidies to those purchasing such products”, the report mentioned.

According to Tesla, Powerwall is a compact home battery that reduces your reliance on the grid by storing your solar energy for use when the sun isn’t shining.

“You can add additional Powerwall units to your system to reduce your impact further and better prepare your home for power outages,” it says.

Musk is finally aiming to build a Tesla supply system in India. The electric vehicle major is planning to source automobile parts worth up to $1.9 billion this year from India, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said this month.

The imports will be around double as compared to auto parts worth $1 billion imported by Tesla from India last year, Goyal said while addressing the annual convention of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA). The minister said that last year, Tesla had already bought $1 billion worth of components from India and this year their target is $1.7-$1.9 billion.

Goyal’s statement came after reports said that the Musk-led company has held talks with the government, and is exploring the possibility of bringing its auto parts and electronics chain to the country.

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‘Tesla to source components worth $1.9 bn from India’

The Union Minister said this is a government that provides equal opportunity to everyone. “We will come up with a policy in consultation with all the stakeholders,” the Union Minister said…reports Asian Lite News

The Minister while speaking at the session also talked about the India Middle East Europe economic corridor…reports Asian Lite News

US-based electric vehicle maker Tesla is targeting to buy components worth $1.9 billion from India this year. Last year, the company bought components worth $1 billion from India, said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday.

Goyal was speaking at the 63rd Annual Session of the Automobile Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). He said that going forward, demand for electric vehicles will increase and it will help in pushing the sector’s growth.

He said: “Tesla already last year bought one billion dollars of components from I think all of you sitting here….I have the list of companies that supply Tesla. This year, their target is nearly $1.7 billion or $1.9 billion as they mentioned.”

There was a time when Tesla was asking for huge cuts, but now there have been reports that the government may be considering juicy concessions on completely building up units, Goyal said while adding that this government has a track record of nine years for treating everyone equally without any differentiation and without any preferences.

The Union Minister said this is a government that provides equal opportunity to everyone. “We will come up with a policy in consultation with all the stakeholders,” the Union Minister said.

When asked about foreign firms looking to invest in India as part of their China plus one strategy, Goyal said that global companies are coming to India because of its attractiveness.

“I totally debunk and reject the China plus one theory. That’s not what is going to drive India. India of today stands on its own feet. The India of today has offerings for the rest of the world both for investment and trade,” he said.

Goyal added that india provides them good business environment, skills, managerial talent,  a big market, and a demand generated by 1.4 billion brothers and sisters.

“It’s a rules-based economy…, it’s a young democracy…..one of the fastest growing large economies. All of this makes it a compulsive investment destination.”

“Therefore companies around the world have gone beyond the Chinese plus one story, they have gone beyond the ABC philosophy of anything but China, they have gone beyond friend-shoring or near-shoring and are looking at India as a trusted partner, he added.

The Minister while speaking at the session also talked about the India Middle East Europe economic corridor.

“The UAE is a window towards all of Africa, large parts of the Middle East and some parts of Europe, which is why the India Middle East Europe economic corridor has very strategic importance for us because it mainly opens up through this whole region. Our logistics will become more effective,” Goyal said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met Tesla chief Elon Musk and invited him to explore opportunities in India for investments in electric mobility and the rapidly expanding commercial space sector.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with PM Modi, Musk, who is also CEO of SpaceX and owner, CTO and chairman of ‘X’ formerly Twitter, said he was incredibly excited about the future of India. He said that India has more promise than any large country in the world.

“In a nutshell, it was a fantastic meeting with the Prime Minister. I like him quite a lot and he visited our factory a few years ago. So we have known each other for a while,” Musk said. “I am tentatively planning to visit India again next year. I am looking forward to it,” he added.

Musk, responding to questions from reporters, said he was confident that his car company Tesla would be in India “as soon as humanly possible”. (ANI)

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Business India News

Tesla Power launches innovative alkaline water purifiers in India

Tesla Power India is based out of Gurugram (APAC office) with the global headquarters in Delaware, the US…reports Asian Lite News

Tesla Power USA, a leading provider of innovative sustainable solutions, launched innovative alkaline water purifiers that features like hot water dispensing with child lock, fruit and vegetable detoxifier and a digital display with live TDS.

Tesla Power India is based out of Gurugram (APAC office) with the global headquarters in Delaware, the US. (The company has nothing to do with Elon Musk-run Tesla).

The new alkaline water purifiers in Alkalino series utilise advanced filtration technology to remove impurities, contaminants, and harmful substances, ensuring that every drop of water is safe and healthy, said the company.

With its 13 stages of purification, Alkalino provides unmatched filtration efficiency, guaranteeing the removal of impurities, contaminants, and harmful substances from the water supply. 

The Tesla Power USA Alkaline Technology water purifiers range starts from Rs 12,990 and goes up to Rs 49,990 with exchange benefits, the company said in a statement.

“We are excited to bring this new superior water filtration technology to people around the country. We are optimistic that this innovative product will complement our efforts to provide holistic health and wellness solutions to a broader set of consumers across regions,” said Kavinder Khurana, MD, Tesla Power USA.

Alkaline water has a higher pH (8-9) than normal water. Alkaline water is the water that has been ionized, which means its pH level has already been raised.

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Tesla coming to India, says Musk after meeting Modi

Musk saying Tesla coming to India

Modi met earlier with Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the nemesis of Musk. The author and thinker who expounds on the quirks of history and how they impact the world…reports Asian Lite News

After hearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” pitch, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced a change of plans, saying that his electric vehicle and battery company will now come to India “as soon as it is humanly possible”.

Musk told reporters in conversations following his meeting with Modi on Tuesday, “He really cares about India because he’s pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something that we intend to do and we’re just trying to figure out the right timing.”

It was a change of plans for the mercurial Musk who had earlier refused to consider manufacturing in India unless India lowered tariffs for imported Teslas to be sold in India.

Modi “really wants to do the right thing for India,” he said. Modi wants to make sure that the advantage from investments “accrues to India’s advantage, which is, you know, obviously, that’s the job,” he added. India has more “promise than any large country in the world,” he said.

If Tesla comes to India, it will be following the pattern of companies like Apple diversifying their manufacturing from China because of geopolitical and supply chain issues. Musk gushed about his “fantastic meeting with the Prime Minister” and declared, “I am a fan of Modi.”

He said that Modi had invited him to visit India and that he would next year. Musk added that India has tremendous potential for “the three pillars of sustainable energy future” — a goal of Modi.

These were power generation using solar and wind energy, deploying batteries to store it, and having electric vehicles that run on it, the Tesla CEO said. “The interesting thing you will find is that this is a lower-cost way to go as well,” he added.

Another Musk venture is Starlink which uses low-orbit satellites to provide broadband internet connections. He said that he was “hopefully looking forward” to bringing it to India.

Asked about former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s assertion that the Indian government had asked the company to shut down a large number of accounts, Musk said bluntly that a company “doesn’t have a choice but to obey local governments”.

“If we don’t if we don’t obey local government laws, then we will get shut down. So the best we can do is really to hew close to the law in any given country,” he added. It is impossible for us to do more than that (or) we will be blocked and our people will be arrested, Musk said.

He added that there are “different rules and regulations, different forms of government, so what we’ll do, the best to provide the freest speech that is possible under the law”.

Modi met earlier with Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the nemesis of Musk. The author and thinker who expounds on the quirks of history and how they impact the world.

Taleb and Musk have been engaged in twitterfights, and Taleb took a dig at Musk on his own Twitter: “Elon Musk, while attacking me on Twitter, was next (in line to meet Modi) but I did not run into him.”

After Modi’s meeting with Taleb, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Baghchi tweeted, “PM lauded Prof Taleb for his contribution in bringing complex ideas of risk and fragility in popular conversations. Highlighted India’s growing start-up ecosystem and the risk-taking abilities of India’s young entrepreneurs.”

ALSO READ-Tesla Cybertruck arrives in New Zealand for testing

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Tesla Cybertruck arrives in New Zealand for testing

Musk drives Tesla Cybertruck at upcoming Gigafactory Texas.

Musk had said that the upcoming truck will “serve briefly as a boat” that will help in crossing rivers and other water bodies…reports Asian Lite News

Elon Musk-owned Tesla’s much-awaited Cybertruck’s prototype has been spotted arriving in New Zealand by plane, possibly for the electric pickup truck’s last winter testing.

According to the company’s latest statement, the delivery event of the electric truck will take place “around the end of Q3,” which would be at the end of September this year, reports Electrek.

Tesla recently told suppliers to be ready for Cybertruck release candidates — last step before the official start of production — in late August, followed by the production in early October.

“While the vehicle is covered, it is pretty easy to recognise the electric pickup truck,” the report said.

Last week, a prototype of the electric pickup truck was spotted going through a drive-through in California and it was equipped with camouflage. Also, a Cybertruck prototype was spotted stuck in a field in rural Texas last month.

In December last year, the electric truck was spotted being worked on in Texas. The company had claimed that the electric pickup truck would hit the market by the end of 2021 when it first announced the Cybertruck in 2019.

Meanwhile, Musk had said that the upcoming truck will “serve briefly as a boat” that will help in crossing rivers and other water bodies.

According to Musk, the objective is for a Cybertruck to be able to traverse the sea between SpaceX’s Starbase and South Padre Island in Texas.

ALSO READ-Tesla Model Y becomes world’s bestselling car

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Tesla Model Y becomes world’s bestselling car

Tesla Model Y surpassed Toyota’s RAV4 and Corolla models to top global sales rankings in the first quarter of 2023…reports Asian Lite News

Tesla Model Y has become the first all-electric vehicle to be billed as the world’s bestselling car, a report has shown.

Tesla Model Y surpassed Toyota’s RAV4 and Corolla models to top global sales rankings in the first quarter of 2023, according to data from Jato Dynamics.

The 2023 Model Y starts at $47,490, considerably more than the 2023 Corolla ($21,550) and RAV4 ($27,575), reports The Verge.

Tesla Model Y sold 267,200 units globally in the first quarter this year, compared to 256,400 Corolla and 214,700 RAV4 units sold.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk even estimated back in 2016 that this model would draw demand “in the 500k to 1 million unit per year level.”

Musk in 2021 predicted that the Model Y would claim the top spot in the world.

“We think Model Y will be the bestselling car or vehicle of any kind in the world. Probably next year. I’m not 100 per cent certain next year, but I think it’s quite likely,” he had told investors.

Tesla remains the market leader in the electric vehicle (EV) market in the US with more than 50 per cent share, selling more cars than the other 17 automotive groups combined.

EV sales increased to represent 7 per cent of all US passenger vehicle sales in 2022, according to Counterpoint Research.

“Tesla is dominating the US EV market while other automotive giants like Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Volkswagen and Hyundai are struggling to provide strong competition,” according to research analyst Abhik Mukherjee.

“Moreover, with the recent price cuts by Tesla and all versions of Tesla’s Model Y becoming eligible for the EV tax credit subsidy, it is expected that Tesla will take an even higher market share,” Mukherjee added.

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Top Tesla team due in India

The visit by Tesla executives comes at a time when the country is betting big on EV adoption…reports Asian Lite News

As outgoing Twitter CEO Elon Musk found butter chicken and naan ‘insanely good,’ a team of senior Tesla executives is reportedly planning to visit India this week to explore entering the niche EV market and expand its footprint beyond China.

According to a Bloomberg report, citing sources, the Tesla executives are expected to meet officials from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office.

“The discussions will revolve around the possibility of local sourcing of components for Tesla’s car models,” the report noted.

Whether Musk will accompany the team was not clear yet, as he gears up to hand over the Twitter baton to Linda Yaccarino, former Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBC Universal, and “devote more time to Tesla” and bring it back on course.

The visit by Tesla executives comes at a time when the country is betting big on EV adoption.

With the friendly government policies and new entrants arriving on the scene with cheaper EVs, the country is set to witness a plethora of options in the next 2-3 years.

Industry experts expect that passenger car EV penetration will cross 21 per cent by 2027 from 1.3 per cent in 2022.

However, Musk has time and again said that he faced challenges from the government for releasing its products in India. “Tesla isn’t in India yet due to “Challenges with the government,” he had posted.

The team he hired in India in 2021 was diverted to focus on the Middle-East and the larger Asia-Pacific markets last year.

Several top Indian leaders made repeated appeals to Musk to bring Tesla to India but to no avail.

Currently, India levies 100 per cent tax on the imported cars of price more than $40,000 (Rs 30 lakh), inclusive of insurance and shipping expenses, and cars less than $40,000 are subject to 60 per cent import tax.

With a $40,000 (over Rs 30 lakh) price tag, Tesla Model 3 may remain as an affordable model in the US but with import duties, it would become unaffordable in the Indian market with an expected price tag of around Rs 60 lakh.

Musk has said that he wants to launch cars in India but the country’s import duties on EVs are “highest in the world by far”.

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USA

New Twitter CEO will allow me to focus on Tesla: Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting/IANS)

Tesla’s operating income decreased 24 per cent to $2.7 billion in Q1 2023 as the Musk-run EV maker continues to cut prices of its vehicles…reports Asian Lite News

The appointment of Linda Yaccarino, former Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBC Universal, as Twitter CEO will free Elon Musk to devote more to Tesla and bring it back on course.

Musk’s role will now transition to being executive chair and CTO, “overseeing product, software and system operations.”

“Bringing on Linda allows me to devote more time to Tesla, which is exactly what I will be doing,” Musk said on Saturday.

Tesla’s operating income decreased 24 per cent to $2.7 billion in Q1 2023 as the Musk-run EV maker continues to cut prices of its vehicles.

In an earnings call with analysts, Musk said that Tesla will start delivering its long-delayed Cybertruck in the third quarter of 2023.

“It takes time to get the manufacturing line going, and this is really a very radical product. It’s not made in the way that other cars are made,” Musk said late last month.

In the first quarter, Tesla’s automotive revenue reached about $19.9 billion, an 18 per cent increase YoY. Tesla ended the March quarter with free cash flow of $441 million, down 80 per cent from the same period last year.

The company has drastically lowered the prices of EVs across its lineup in the US and Europe, in an effort to boost sales as its stock plummeted more than 60 per cent earlier this year.

Musk had hinted that more price increases may be on the way as Tesla adjusts to the demand created by the massive price cuts.

ALSO READ-A woman will head Twitter: Musk

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Musk settles defamation suit with Indian-American Sikh

Randeep Hothi had filed a defamation case against Musk in 2020, alleging that the billionaire businessman falsely accused him of actively harassing and “almost killing” Tesla employees.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has agreed to pay $10,000 to settle a defamation case brought against him by Indian-American Sikh critic and independent researcher, Randeep Hothi.

Hothi, a doctoral student in Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, had filed a defamation case against Musk in 2020, alleging that the billionaire businessman falsely accused him of actively harassing and “almost killing” Tesla employees.

Following a lengthy and hard-fought litigation, in March 2023, Musk asked Hothi to settle the case.

“This case was about taking a stand, not seeking fame or money. I feel vindicated,” said Hothi, announcing that he accepted Musk’s settlement offer in a statement.

“I brought this case to defend my work, clear my name, and send a message… I believe I’ve accomplished that, thanks in no small part to Musk, whose own behaviour over the last year has highlighted the need to scrutinise his every word and deed.”

D. Gill Sperlein, one of Hothi’s lawyers, said: “Last year, Musk famously promised that he would never ‘settle an unjust case’. Yet, he has asked Hothi to accommodate him. We welcome Musk’s belated acknowledgment that this case was just.”

Hothi locked horns with Tesla after he created the @skabooshka Twitter account where he fact-checked Musk and his company’s published claims regarding the electric vehicle manufacturer’s automation, technology and production processes.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Xinhua/Ding Ting/IANS)

Beginning in 2018, Hothi, donning the role of a social activist, observed Tesla’s production at its Fremont, California-based factory.

He also documented the construction of Tesla’s Model 3 assembly line tent, sharing photos of his Twitter followers.

In April 2019, Tesla sought a restraining order against Hothi, alleging that the latter struck an employee with his car in a Tesla factory parking lot — an accusation that Hothi vehemently denied.

When Hothi and his legal team successfully obtained a court order requiring Tesla to hand over video evidence of the alleged encounter, Tesla abruptly dropped its lawsuit in July 2019.

Yet the following month, Musk e-mailed a reporter accusing Hothi of “actively harassing” and “almost kill(ing)” Tesla employees.

That remark was later published and amplified to hundreds of thousands of people on Twitter.

Musk’s accusations prompted an outpouring of public support for Hothi, including from whistleblowers, researchers, journalists, and critics.

In August 2020, represented by Sperlein, Hothi filed a defamation lawsuit against Musk based on his remarks.

Musk attempted to dispose of the case by arguing that his accusations were protected speech, and hence should be dismissed under California’s anti-SLAPP law.

In January 2021, the trial court rejected Musk’s arguments, holding that Hothi “has demonstrated the probability that he can succeed on the merits of his claim” because Musk’s remarks were tantamount to an accusation of crime, and thus legally constituted defamation per se.

Hothi accepted Musk’s settlement offer on April 30, and is expected to request dismissal of the case on May 1, pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement.

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Musk’s Tesla fires workers over union efforts

Tesla and Musk have faced several complaints over their anti-union behaviour in the past years…reports Asian Lite News

Elon Musk-run Tesla has fired more than 30 employees from its New York Gigafactory, after they planned to unionise, according to a complaint filed with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The Workers’ United union alleged that Tesla fired over 30 employees from its Buffalo, New York plant and at least one of the workers was part of the 25-employee organising committee, while several others had taken part in labour discussions, reports The Verge.

The complaint alleged that the layoffs came “in retaliation for union activity and to discourage union activity.”

layoffs

“This is a form of collective retaliation against the group of workers that started this organizing effort” and is “designed to terrify everyone about potential consequences of them organizing”, Workers United organizer Jaz Brisack was quoted as saying in the report.

The Buffalo facility is known as Gigafactory 2 and “is home to over 800 analysts tasked with labelling vision data to train Tesla’s Autopilot software”.

Tesla and Musk have faced several complaints over their anti-union behaviour in the past years.

In January, Tesla was accused of violating labour laws in the US, allegedly directing employees not to talk about pay and working conditions.

In a complaint, the NLRB claimed that the electric car-maker “told employees not to complain to higher level managers about their pay or other conditions of employment” and said “not to discuss their pay with other persons”.

The company also allegedly told employees not to discuss the hiring, suspension, or termination of employees with others.

These incidents occurred from December 2021 to January 2022, the complaint alleged.

The NLRB in 2021 forced Musk to delete an anti-union tweet, and ruled that its firing of union activist Richard Ortiz was illegal.

Two US-based Tesla employees had also filed complaints with the NLRB over claims the company illegally fired them for criticising Musk.

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