Minister Nara Lokesh Meets Tesla CFO: Minister Nara Lokesh is on a busy three-day trip in the United States, focusing on attracting investments to Andhra Pradesh through the IT and Electronics department. Recently, he visited Tesla’s headquarters in Austin, where he met with CFO Vaibhav Taneja to discuss potential investment opportunities in the electric vehicle sector.
During the meeting, Lokesh outlined the state’s ambitious goal to achieve 72 gigawatts of renewable energy production by 2029, under the leadership of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He emphasized the need for Tesla’s assistance and cooperation in this endeavor. The minister highlighted the government’s focus on manufacturing electric vehicles and advancing renewable and green energy initiatives.
Lokesh also mentioned that Anantapur district would serve as a strategic location for setting up Tesla’s EV manufacturing and battery production units. He requested collaboration in establishing solar power systems across the state, particularly for smart cities and rural electrification projects.
Minister Nara Lokesh has requested Tesla to contribute to the development of a statewide EV charging network and the implementation of supercharging technology. He urged Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja to establish technology parks in Andhra Pradesh, emphasizing Tesla’s role in research and development, innovation, and sustainable fuel solutions. Taneja highlighted Tesla’s global leadership in electric vehicles, clean energy solutions, and battery storage systems, mentioning products like battery power storage devices and solar panels.
Additionally, Lokesh met with Ross Perot Jr., Chairman of the Perot Group and Hillwood Development, in Dallas, USA. During their discussion, Lokesh expressed interest in collaborating on infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh, including smart city initiatives and the development of major urban areas. Perot Jr. manages a diverse portfolio in real estate, technology, data centers, and energy sectors, making this partnership potentially significant for Andhra Pradesh’s development goals.
Minister Nara Lokesh expressed optimism that innovative approaches from the Perot Group in real estate and public-private partnership projects would significantly contribute to the economic growth and stability of Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted the favorable environment for developing industrial and logistics parks along the coastal regions, similar to the AllianceTexas model.
During discussions, Lokesh emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Perot Group for establishing an aerospace and defense hub in Andhra Pradesh. He noted that the expertise of Ross Perot Jr. would be instrumental in attracting global players to the aerospace sector and developing necessary infrastructure like ports, highways, and urban development projects through public-private partnerships. The experience of the Perot Group would also be valuable in realizing the state’s aspirations for aerospace technology, including the planned aviation university in Visakhapatnam.
This partnership aims to enhance Andhra Pradesh’s position as a hub for aerospace and defense industries, leveraging local skilled workforce and facilitating growth in these sectors.
