Erdogan asks Musk to build Tesla factory in Turkey
The country is among the most important candidates for the carmaker’s next plant, the CEO is quoted as saying
18 September 2023 - 08:11
byChandni Shah and Daren Butler
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Istanbul — Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk to build a factory in Turkey, the country’s communications directorate said on Monday.
It cited Musk as saying that many Turkish suppliers are already working with Tesla and that Turkey was among the most important candidates for its next factory.
Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Erdogan and Musk were speaking during a meeting at Turkish House, a skyscraper near the UN in New York, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.
Erdogan is in the US to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Erdogan also said during the meeting that Turkey is open to co-operation on artificial intelligence and Starlink, the satellite internet venture of Musk’s SpaceX, the communications directorate said.
It cited Musk as saying SpaceX wished to work with Turkish authorities to obtain the necessary licence to offer Starlink satellite services in Turkey.
It also said Erdogan invited Musk to attend Turkish aerospace and technology festival Teknofest in Izmir at the end of September and cited Musk as saying he would gladly attend.
Musk is also set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California on Monday. Musk posted on social media platform X that their talks would focus on artificial intelligence technology.
Tesla in August expressed an interest in building a factory in India that would produce a low-cost electric vehicle.
Tesla now has six factories and is building a seventh in Mexico in northern Nuevo Leon state, part of the automaker’s push to expand its global footprint.
Musk said in May that Tesla would probably pick a location for a new factory by the end of the year.
Tesla shares are up 123% so far this year and the automaker on Saturday said it had produced its 5-millionth car.
In addition to running Tesla, Musk also bought X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44bn in 2022.
While describing himself as a free speech absolutist, Musk has complied with some demands by the Turkish government to censor content in the country. In other cases, the social media company has objected to orders by the Turkish courts.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Erdogan asks Musk to build Tesla factory in Turkey
The country is among the most important candidates for the carmaker’s next plant, the CEO is quoted as saying
Istanbul — Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk to build a factory in Turkey, the country’s communications directorate said on Monday.
It cited Musk as saying that many Turkish suppliers are already working with Tesla and that Turkey was among the most important candidates for its next factory.
Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Erdogan and Musk were speaking during a meeting at Turkish House, a skyscraper near the UN in New York, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.
Erdogan is in the US to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Erdogan also said during the meeting that Turkey is open to co-operation on artificial intelligence and Starlink, the satellite internet venture of Musk’s SpaceX, the communications directorate said.
It cited Musk as saying SpaceX wished to work with Turkish authorities to obtain the necessary licence to offer Starlink satellite services in Turkey.
It also said Erdogan invited Musk to attend Turkish aerospace and technology festival Teknofest in Izmir at the end of September and cited Musk as saying he would gladly attend.
Musk is also set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California on Monday. Musk posted on social media platform X that their talks would focus on artificial intelligence technology.
Tesla in August expressed an interest in building a factory in India that would produce a low-cost electric vehicle.
Tesla now has six factories and is building a seventh in Mexico in northern Nuevo Leon state, part of the automaker’s push to expand its global footprint.
Musk said in May that Tesla would probably pick a location for a new factory by the end of the year.
Tesla shares are up 123% so far this year and the automaker on Saturday said it had produced its 5-millionth car.
In addition to running Tesla, Musk also bought X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44bn in 2022.
While describing himself as a free speech absolutist, Musk has complied with some demands by the Turkish government to censor content in the country. In other cases, the social media company has objected to orders by the Turkish courts.
Reuters
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