Though it recently shifted gears and is focusing on producing low-cost EVs and a full lineup of hybrids, Ford remains committed to electrification, regardless. While The Blue Oval is in the process of erecting multiple new plants that will build its future EVs and EV batteries, the automaker has also reportedly been mulling a return to India for such endeavors as well, even after it ended its manufacturing operations there years ago. Now, one of Ford’s chief EV rivals – Tesla, which reportedly canceled its own plans to build a cheap EV recently – may be considering such a move as well, according to a new report from Reuters.
According to unnamed sources, Tesla has already begun producing right-hand drive models at its German facility that will be exported to that country later this year. Meanwhile, representatives from Tesla will also reportedly visit India – the world’s third-largest automotive market – later this month to scope out potential sites for a possible $2 billion dollar plant that could build vehicles locally as well.
It isn’t clear what models Tesla intends to export into India later this year, nor what vehicles it may produce there if it finds a suitable location for a plant. However, this move comes after the Indian government chose to cut its import tax rate in EVs last month, at least for automakers that invest at least $500 million in the country and begin building those vehicles there within the next three years.
For now, Tesla only builds the Model Y crossover at its German plant in Berlin, and under this new policy, it would be able to export up to 8,000 models to India per year while receiving the lower tax rate. Regardless, it’s clear that Tesla has been eyeing that market for years now, and CEO Elon Musk even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York last June.
We’ll have more on everything Ford’s competition is up to soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for 24/7 Ford news coverage.
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