In the impending electoral scenario set to unfold later this year, the anticipated foray of Tesla into the Indian market may experience a temporary deceleration. The intricate negotiations between the Indian government and Elon Musk’s electric vehicle (EV) conglomerate are poised to be momentarily interrupted due to the forthcoming general elections.

As the Election Commission of India (ECI) has yet to unveil the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, projections indicate their occurrence in the April-May timeframe of this calendar year. This hiatus in discussions is expected to be transient, with resumption anticipated post the electoral denouement, as conveyed by a senior government functionary to MoneyControl.

“The dialogues pertaining to Tesla’s ingress into India are likely to transpire post the electoral proceedings, given the potential for electoral controversies,” remarked the official. This development materializes nearly a month subsequent to reports that Tesla is contemplating a substantial commitment, approximating $30 billion, encompassing direct and indirect investments in India over the next quinquennium.

Aligned with this fiscal pledge, the corporation endeavors to establish a domestic manufacturing facility within three years of inception and introduce its maiden domestically assembled automobile by 2026, entailing a $2 billion investment. The capital injection, however, hinges on the government’s verdict regarding a 15% concessional duty on imported vehicles during the initial biennium, a proposition that has faced official disapproval.

Amidst the mounting enthusiasm for electric vehicles in the nation, Tesla is not the sole contender eyeing the Indian automotive landscape. From Acer licensing its brand to mobility startup eBikeGo to VinFast’s memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government for a plant establishment, numerous enterprises are making inroads into India. Furthermore, automotive giants such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have unveiled an array of electric vehicle offerings to capitalize on the burgeoning Indian EV ecosystem and cater to the escalating demand.

This impetus is not confined to four-wheelers, as evidenced by the two-wheeler EV startup Ola Electric filing IPO papers with SEBI, anticipating a prospective public listing in 2024. At the core of this strategic push into India lies the burgeoning EV market, projected to burgeon to a colossal $110 billion by 2029, as outlined in a comprehensive report.