Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has extended an invitation to billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk to build a Tesla electric vehicle factory in Turkey. During their meeting in New York, Erdoğan praised Turkey’s advancements in technology and invited Musk to Teknofest, an upcoming aerospace and technology festival in Izmir.
Erdoğan also discussed the potential for collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence and the partnership between Turkey’s space program and Musk’s SpaceX. According to Turkish state media, Musk acknowledged that many Turkish suppliers are already working with Tesla and recognized Turkey as a top candidate for their next factory. He also expressed an interest in working with Turkish authorities to obtain the necessary license to provide Starlink satellite services in the country.
Tesla, however, has not yet responded to the request for comment regarding the invitation from President Erdoğan. Currently, Tesla operates six gigafactories located in the United States, China, and Germany, with plans to establish its seventh factory in Mexico. The Tesla CEO has been approached by several other world leaders, including those from France, Spain, and Italy, who have expressed their desire to have a Tesla factory in their respective countries.
Earlier this year, Musk stated his intention to finalize the location for Tesla’s new factory by the end of 2023, with India also being considered as a potential site. The invitation from President Erdoğan signals Turkey’s aspirations to become a key player in the electric vehicle industry and reinforces the government’s commitment to fostering technological innovation within the country.
Sources: Turkish state media, Anadolu Agency.