Tesla is looking for land to set up an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in India, with Maharashtra emerging as the leading contender.

The company has started evaluating potential locations and is in talks with state officials, as per the report.

Tesla’s interest in Maharashtra comes after Elon Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US. Reports suggest that Musk sought concessions, including lower tariffs on imported EVs, to facilitate Tesla's entry into the Indian market.

According to a report, Maharashtra is Tesla’s preferred choice due to its existing presence in Pune, where the company has an office. Many of Tesla’s suppliers are also based in the state, making it a natural choice for expansion.

The Maharashtra government has reportedly offered sites near Chakan and Chikhali, both located close to Pune as per an official cited in the report.

Chakan is a major automobile manufacturing hub, home to companies like Mercedes-Benz, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Volkswagen, and Bajaj Auto.