In response to Erdogan’s proposition, Musk conveyed his enthusiasm for the Turkish market.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended an invitation to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, urging him to consider establishing Tesla’s next factory in Turkey. The enticing offer was made during their meeting in New York, where Erdogan attended the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting between Erdogan and Musk took place at the iconic Turkish House in Manhattan, and it revolved around the prospects of Tesla‘s expansion into Turkey.
Erdogan Courts Musk for Tesla Factory in Turkey
According to a report from Turkey’s state news agency, Anadolu, citing the country’s communications directorate, Erdogan highlighted the recent success of Turkey’s own electric car Togg during the meeting. The Turkish President pointed out that with Tesla’s entry into the market, the company will have a huge opportunity to thrive in the region.
The country’s electric car market has experienced a phenomenal surge, witnessing a 597% increase in sales from January to August this year. According to data provided by the Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association (ODMD), a total of 22,900 electric vehicles were sold, compared to 3,283 during the same period last year.
Hybrid car sales also thrived, jumping by 65.7% to reach 60,489 units in the first eight months of the year. With these records, Erdogan believes that Musk’s electric car manufacturing company will bloom in the country.
In addition to inviting Musk to build Tesla’s factory in Turkey, the country’s President proposed collaborations between Musk’s aerospace giant SpaceX and Turkey’s budding space program.
He also extended an invitation to Musk to participate in Teknofest, Turkey’s premier aviation, aerospace, and technology festival, scheduled to run from late September to the end of October this year.
Turkey Could Be Considered for Next Tesla’s Factory
In response to Erdogan’s proposition, Musk conveyed his enthusiasm for the Turkish market. The billionaire CEO emphasized that several Turkish suppliers are already actively involved with Tesla, noting that the country is “among the most important candidates” for its upcoming Tesla factory.
Tesla’s expansion has been a topic of global interest, with the company currently operating six factories worldwide and actively building a seventh in Mexico’s Nuevo Leon state.
Musk had previously disclosed his intention to select a new factory location by the end of this year, making Erdogan’s offer particularly timely.
While Tesla and the Turkish embassy in Washington DC, have yet to comment on this development, it underscores the country’s determination to attract prominent players in the electric vehicle industry. With Tesla’s keen interest in Turkey, the nation’s automotive landscape may soon experience a significant transformation.
Meanwhile, in addition to these automotive discussions, Musk is also scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California, focusing their talks on artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
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