Reliance Jio Engages in Discussions with Tesla, Led by Elon Musk, for Establishing a Dedicated Private Network for Its Planned Manufacturing Unit in India.
Sources said, “The talks between Jio and Tesla are at a preliminary stage and any further developments are expected only when the latter firms up its plans for setting up a manufacturing unit in India.”
According to a Jio executive, the focus of 5G technology is primarily on enterprise connectivity. The company is actively exploring opportunities in various industries such as automobile, healthcare, manufacturing, and more, to identify potential use cases and provide services for building and managing their networks.
Experts believe that a captive private 5G network can provide enterprises with high data speeds and increased data carrying capacity within their premises, surpassing the capabilities of public networks. This technology not only enables faster connectivity but also facilitates the adoption of Industry 4.0, a transformative concept in the manufacturing sector.
In a significant shift, Tesla has altered its approach and is now open to the idea of manufacturing in India. The company has abandoned its previous demand for New Delhi to reduce the import duty on completely built units, which currently stands at 100% for cars priced at $40,000 and above.
Recently, a delegation from Tesla, consisting of supply chain executives, engaged in discussions with officials from the Ministry as well as the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) regarding the establishment of a manufacturing unit in India. These discussions signify Tesla’s keen interest in exploring opportunities and furthering their plans for manufacturing operations in the country.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, said last week, “They (Tesla) are very seriously looking at India as a production and innovation base.”
