Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has extended an invitation to Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, to establish a Tesla factory within Turkey, as reported by the country’s communications directorate on Monday.
During their meeting at the Turkish House, a towering edifice near the United Nations in New York, Erdogan and Musk engaged in discussions regarding potential cooperation.
This move underscores the growing interest in expanding Tesla’s manufacturing operations worldwide.
Musk acknowledged the existing collaboration between Tesla and Turkish suppliers and identified Turkey as a significant contender for Tesla’s next factory location.
However, Tesla has not yet provided an official response to this proposal.
Erdogan, who is presently in the United States for the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly, further expressed Turkey’s willingness to cooperate in the fields of artificial intelligence and Starlink, a satellite internet project by Musk’s SpaceX.
Musk expressed his interest in obtaining the necessary licenses from Turkish authorities to offer Starlink satellite services in Turkey.
Additionally, Erdogan invited Musk to attend the upcoming Teknofest, a Turkish aerospace and technology festival scheduled for the end of September in Izmir.
Musk enthusiastically accepted the invitation.
In parallel, Musk is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California, with a focus on discussions related to artificial intelligence technology.
This meeting demonstrates Musk’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge technologies on a global scale.
Tesla has shown keen interest in expanding its manufacturing presence worldwide, with a recent expression of interest in building a factory in India for producing low-cost electric vehicles.
Currently, Tesla operates six factories globally, with the construction of a seventh facility underway in Mexico’s Nuevo Leon state.
Throughout the year, Tesla has experienced remarkable growth, with its shares surging by 123%. Furthermore, the automaker celebrated a significant milestone by producing its 5 millionth car recently.
Beyond his role at Tesla, Musk made headlines by acquiring X, previously known as Twitter, for a staggering $44 billion in 2022.
While Musk identifies himself as a proponent of free speech, he has also complied with certain content censorship demands made by the Turkish government, showcasing the complex intersection of technology and global politics.
In some instances, X has contested orders issued by Turkish courts, highlighting the challenges associated with operating within a diverse regulatory landscape.
Follow London Insider on Google News