Elon Musk and Turkish President Erdoğan Discuss Potential Tesla Gigafactory in New York Meeting
High-Level Talks and Gigafactory Prospects Emerge as Musk Meets Erdoğan
In a notable rendezvous, Tesla and SpaceX luminary Elon Musk met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his visit to New York on Sunday. This intriguing encounter touched upon a gamut of topics, with Erdoğan expressing a strong desire for Musk to consider Turkey as the location for Tesla’s next Gigafactory.
The meeting transpired at the Turkish House in New York City, as officially reported by the Directorate of Communications of Turkey on Sunday. President Erdoğan extended a warm invitation to Tesla, urging them to establish their seventh Gigafactory in Turkey. Moreover, discussions veered towards the realm of SpaceX and Turkey’s pioneering Digital Vision and National Artificial Intelligence Strategy initiatives.
In an endearing gesture, Musk was accompanied by his young child, X Æ A-12, as evident in the photographic and video documentation of the encounter. Notably, the meeting concluded within a succinct timeframe of approximately 45 minutes, according to @Dima Zeniuk.
During the interaction, President Erdoğan bestowed upon Musk two significant literary works: “UN Reform: A New Approach to International Cooperation,” penned by the Turkish Directorate of Communications, and “A Fairer World is Possible,” authored by Erdoğan himself. This exchange of knowledge underscores the multifaceted nature of their discourse. It is worth noting that President Erdoğan’s presence in New York is primarily associated with his participation in the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
Tesla ventured into the Turkish market by commencing deliveries of its Model Y vehicles in May. This move came to fruition after an initial plan to introduce all four Tesla models in the country the previous year. Furthermore, Tesla marked its presence in Turkey by inaugurating its maiden design studio and Supercharger stations in April, signifying a forthcoming official launch of the brand’s vehicles in the nation.
However, it is important to highlight that as of now, Tesla’s Model 3, Model S, and Model X vehicles are not readily available in Turkey. Interested customers accessing the country’s order configurator for these models encounter a “Get Updates” button instead of the conventional “Order Now” and “Test Drive” options featured on Turkey’s Model Y order configurator.
In an earlier show of goodwill, Musk extended an offer of assistance to Turkey with SpaceX’s Starlink internet service earlier this year. This gesture followed a devastating earthquake that struck the country, resulting in significant casualties. It is noteworthy that Starlink has not yet received approval in Turkey, and a Turkish official subsequently declined the offer, expressing gratitude to Musk for the generous proposal.
