The Turkish communications department announced that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan requested Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla (TSLA.O), to establish a Tesla factory in Turkey.
Erdogan Invites Musk build Tesla factory in Turkey: It quoted Musk as adding that Turkey was among the top contenders for its upcoming factory and that several Turkish suppliers currently deal with Tesla.
Requests for comment from Tesla did not immediately receive a response.
According to the state-run Anadolu news agency of Turkey, Erdogan and Musk were conversing at a meeting at Turkish House, a skyscraper close to the United Nations in New York.
The 78th U.N. General Assembly is being held in the United States, and Erdogan is there to attend.
According to the communications directorate, Erdogan also stated during the meeting that Turkey was ready to collaboration on artificial intelligence and Starlink, Musk’s SpaceX’s satellite internet project.
In order to secure the necessary permit to provide Starlink satellite services in Turkey, it quoted Musk as adding that SpaceX wished to cooperate with Turkish officials.
Erdogan reportedly invited Musk to the Teknofest aerospace and technology festival in Izmir at the end of September, and Musk accepted the invitation, stating he would be happy to attend.
On Monday in California, Musk will also have a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel. Their discussions will centre on AI technologies, Musk wrote on the social networking site X.
“Tesla’s Expansion Plans: New Factory in Mexico and Global Growth Initiatives”
In August, Tesla expressed its interest in establishing a factory in India to manufacture affordable electric cars.
In an effort to increase its global presence, Tesla is now developing a seventh factory in northern Nuevo Leon state of Mexico.
Tesla would probably choose a location for a new facility before the end of this year, Musk predicted in May.
The company’s stock has increased by 123% so far this year, and on Saturday it announced that it has created its 5 millionth vehicle.
In 2022, Musk purchased X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44 billion in addition to controlling Tesla.
However, Musk, who calls himself a “absolutist” of free speech, has obliged with some requests from the Turkish government to filter some of the country’s online content. The social networking company has already objected to Turkish court decisions in other instances.