Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly extended a formal request to Tesla’s visionary CEO, Elon Musk, to consider the establishment of a Tesla manufacturing facility within Turkish borders. This intriguing development emerged via the state-owned Anadolu Agency, revealing that the request took place during a meeting held at the Turkish House, a prominent skyscraper located in close proximity to the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The meeting between President Erdogan and Elon Musk, a technology luminary renowned for his pioneering electric vehicles, unfolded against the backdrop of Erdogan’s presence in the United States to participate in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Notably, both Tesla and the Turkish embassy in Washington, DC have remained tight-lipped in the immediate aftermath of this proposition, refraining from offering any official comments or responses, as reported by Reuters news agency.
This diplomatic approach from President Erdogan to Elon Musk underscores Turkey’s aspiration to further integrate itself into the burgeoning electric vehicle industry, which Tesla has been a trailblazer in. The prospect of a Tesla manufacturing facility on Turkish soil could have far-reaching implications, potentially fostering economic growth, technological innovation, and job creation in the region. However, it remains to be seen how Elon Musk and Tesla will respond to this overture and whether it will lead to a new chapter in Turkey’s automotive and industrial landscape.