Will provide all help: Maha minister Jayant Patil invites Elon Musk to set up Tesla plant in state

Elon Musk, Jayant Patil. File Pics

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil on Sunday invited Tesla co-founder Elon Musk to set up its manufacturing unit in Maharashtra after the US billionaire revealed that they are facing some challenges with the government.

Patil, in a tweet, said, "Maharashtra is one of the most progressive states in India. We will provide you all the necessary help from Maharashtra for you to get established in India. We invite you to establish your manufacturing plant in Maharashtra."

Earlier, TRS Working President KT Rama Rao has invited the billionaire businessman to "set shop" in Telangana. Rao said Telangana is a champion in sustainability initiatives and his government would be happy to partner with Tesla in working through the challenges. "Hey Elon, I am the Industry and Commerce Minister of Telangana state in India. Will be happy to partner Tesla in working through the challenges to set shop in India/Telangana," Rao said in a reply to Musk's tweet.

Musk on Thursday informed that the EV-maker is facing a "lot of challenges" for its car launch in India. Tesla wants to begin selling imported cars in India this year, but says taxes in the country are among the highest in the world. With a $39,990 global price tag, Tesla Model 3 may remain 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. 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