Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk to build a Tesla factory in Turkey, according to the state-owned Anadolu Agency. The request was made during a meeting at Turkish House, a skyscraper near the United Nations in New York. President Erdogan is currently in the United States to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Tesla and the Turkish embassy in Washington, DC have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. However, this request comes as Tesla has expressed interest in building a factory in India to produce a low-cost electric vehicle.
Currently, Tesla has six factories and is in the process of building a seventh in Mexico. The company has been actively expanding its global footprint and aims to choose a location for another factory the end of this year.
Interestingly, Elon Musk is also scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and their discussions are expected to focus on artificial intelligence technology.
It is worth noting that while Musk describes himself as a free speech absolutist, Tesla has complied with some demands from the Turkish government to censor content in the country. However, the social media company has also objected to orders from the Turkish courts in certain cases.
In conclusion, President Erdogan’s request for a Tesla factory in Turkey reflects the country’s growing interest in electric vehicles and its desire to attract investments from global automakers like Tesla.
Definitions:
– Tesla factory: A manufacturing facility owned and operated Tesla, Inc. for the production of electric vehicles and energy storage products.
– Electric vehicle (EV): A vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion, typically powered rechargeable batteries.
– Artificial intelligence (AI): Intelligence exhibited machines, which involves the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to learn and problem solve.
Sources:
– Anadolu Agency (state-owned Turkish news agency)
– Reuters news agency
