Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has requested Tesla CEO Elon Musk to build a Tesla factory in Turkey, according to a post by Anadolu Agency on social media. The request was made during a meeting at Turkish House, a skyscraper near the United Nations in New York.
President Erdogan’s request comes as Tesla expresses interest in expanding its global footprint and building factories in various countries. In August, the company expressed interest in building a factory in India to produce low-cost electric vehicles. Currently, Tesla operates six factories globally and is in the process of building a seventh in Mexico.
Tesla has not yet responded to the request for comment regarding the Turkish President’s proposal. However, Elon Musk is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California to discuss artificial intelligence technology.
Elon Musk, in addition to running Tesla, also acquired social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) for $44 billion in 2022. However, Musk has complied with the Turkish government’s demands to censor content in the country, raising concerns about freedom of speech.
The request for a Tesla factory in Turkey demonstrates the country’s interest in expanding its electric vehicle manufacturing capabilities. If realized, this partnership could contribute to Turkey’s efforts to transition to a greener economy and promote the adoption of electric vehicles.
Sources:
– Anadolu Agency
– Reuters