Sept. 18 (UPI) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with Elon Musk in New York on Sunday, with the aim of convincing the billionaire CEO to establish a new Tesla manufacturing plant in Turkey.
Erdogan, who was visiting the United States in preparation for the United Nations General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, engaged in discussions with Musk regarding potential future collaborations. This included a proposal for Musk to open a Tesla factory in Turkey and for SpaceX to partner with Turkey’s space program through the application of artificial intelligence technology.
The meeting occurred at Turkish House, a 36-floor skyscraper located in Manhattan, across the street from U.N. headquarters. Turkish House serves as Turkey’s diplomatic mission.
During the meeting, Musk expressed his recognition that Turkish parts suppliers are already deeply integrated with Tesla. He stated that Turkey is “among the most important candidates” for the establishment of the next Tesla manufacturing plant, as reported by Turkish media, citing the country’s communications directorate.
Musk also expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the Turkish government in implementing Starlink satellite services in Turkey.
Erdogan acquainted Musk with several advanced technological breakthroughs in Turkey before inviting him to attend Teknofest. Teknofest is Turkey’s premier high-tech extravaganza, showcasing aviation, aerospace, engineering, and innovation. The event is scheduled to take place later this month in Izmir.
Currently, Tesla operates six factories worldwide, with four located in the United States, and one each in China and Germany.
In March, Musk announced the opening of a seventh plant in Mexico. The company had also considered establishing a factory in India.
Meanwhile, France, Spain, and Italy are also competing to attract Tesla for the establishment of their own factories.
Musk stated that he will make a decision regarding the location of another Tesla plant by the end of this year.
