BANGALORE — Tesla Inc. will start promoting automobiles in India in 2021, CEO Elon Musk tweeted.

Replying to a tweet asking him if Tesla would being promoting automobiles in January in India, Musk tweeted on Sunday: “No, however undoubtedly this yr.” 

The primary mannequin to be launched would be the Mannequin 3, the most cost effective amongst Tesla automobiles, with costs beginning at over $74,739 (5.5 million Indian rupees), in response to a report in the Economic Times on Saturday. The report mentioned gross sales would start in June and orders may begin “anytime quickly.” 

In October, the federal government of Maharashtra had invited Tesla to the state, weeks after Musk steered coming into the nation subsequent yr.

Nitin Gadkari, India’s transport minister, told the Indian Express on Monday that the EV maker may have a look at meeting and manufacturing in India primarily based on the gross sales response. 

Tesla and the minister’s workplace couldn’t be reached by Reuters for remark.

India has been eager to scale back its oil dependence and lower down on air pollution, however its efforts to advertise EVs have been stymied by an absence of funding in manufacturing and infrastructure comparable to charging stations.