President Erdogan’s proposal to Musk aligns with his ongoing efforts to bolster economic development and technological advancement within Turkey.
During a meeting at the Turkish House near the United Nations in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended an invitation to Tesla CEO Elon Musk to establish a Tesla factory in Turkey, as reported by the state-owned news agency Anadolu Agency on Sunday.
Elon Musk is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California on Monday, with discussions expected to revolve around advancements in artificial intelligence technology, according to Musk’s post on social media platform X.
President Erdogan’s proposal to Musk aligns with his ongoing efforts to bolster economic development and technological advancement within Turkey. However, as of now, neither Tesla nor the Turkish embassy in Washington have provided an official response to this request.
Notably, in August, Tesla expressed interest in constructing a factory in India aimed at producing affordable electric vehicles (EVs). The company already operates six factories globally and is in the process of establishing a seventh in Mexico, part of its strategic expansion to increase its presence worldwide.
Elon Musk indicated in May that a decision regarding the location of a new factory would likely be made by the end of the year. Tesla’s shares have seen a remarkable surge of 123% year-to-date, and the company recently celebrated the production of its 5 millionth car.
In addition to his role at Tesla, Elon Musk made headlines in 2022 by acquiring X (formerly known as Twitter) for a significant sum of $44 billion. While Musk has described himself as a proponent of free speech, he has also complied with certain requests from the Turkish government to censor content in the country. However, there have been instances where the social media platform has contested orders issued by Turkish courts.
Erdogan’s proposal to Musk exemplifies the growing global interest in electric vehicle production and the potential economic benefits associated with establishing manufacturing facilities in various regions. As the electric vehicle industry continues to evolve, partnerships and collaborations between governments and companies like Tesla are likely to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable transportation.