Elon Musk is once again looking east – this time with a serious interest in India. The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is reportedly closing in on landmark deals that could reshape India’s EV market and its digital infrastructure. On Vantage with Palki Sharma, this development is being closely watched, not just for what it means for India, but for what it reveals about Musk’s evolving global strategy.

Tesla’s Long Road to India – Now at the Final Turn?

Tesla’s interest in India is nothing new. The company has flirted with the idea for years, but high import taxes and regulatory challenges kept the electric vehicle giant at bay. Now, it seems the long courtship is turning serious. Reports suggest that Tesla is considering a major investment to set up manufacturing facilities in India — a potential game-changer for the country’s EV ambitions.

If the deal goes through, India could become a key part of Tesla’s global supply chain, much like China is today. It would also offer Tesla a strategic hedge as Western relations with China grow increasingly complex.

On Vantage, Palki Sharma notes: “Musk doesn’t just chase markets. He chases leverage. India offers both — a massive consumer base and a geopolitical edge.”

Starlink: Beaming Internet to the Last Mile

While Tesla headlines grab attention, another Musk venture — Starlink — might have even bigger implications for India. With ambitions to bring satellite internet to remote and underserved areas, Starlink aligns neatly with India’s ‘Digital India’ vision.

India has millions still lacking reliable internet access, particularly in rural regions. Starlink’s constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites could change that, delivering high-speed connectivity where fiber and towers cannot.

But this too will require government approval, spectrum access, and regulatory flexibility — something Musk has struggled with in other countries. Will India bend the rules for Starlink? Or will it demand that Musk play by its book?

Geopolitics, Competition, and Calculated Timing

Why now? The timing is no coincidence. As global supply chains diversify and tensions with China mount, India is positioning itself as the next big manufacturing hub. The Indian government, under PM Narendra Modi, is offering incentives to attract high-tech manufacturing and foreign investment.

Musk, ever the opportunist, knows this is the moment to act. A Tesla plant in India would give him manufacturing scale, political goodwill, and market access all at once. Starlink, meanwhile, could give him a digital foothold in the world’s most populous country.

But India is not without its own calculations. It wants jobs, tech transfer, and respect for its regulatory sovereignty. Musk may be a global celebrity CEO, but India has shown it won’t roll out the red carpet without guarantees.

The Bigger Picture

As Palki Sharma points out, this is more than a business story. It’s a geopolitical play.

“Elon Musk isn’t just selling cars or internet satellites,” she says. “He’s reshaping the digital and industrial future — and India is the next frontier.”

If the Tesla and Starlink deals move forward, they could mark the beginning of a new phase in India’s tech story — one powered not just by domestic ambition, but by global collaboration with the world’s most watched innovator.