Erdogan Lobbies Elon Musk To Establish Tesla Factory In Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made an appeal to tech magnate Elon Musk, encouraging him to consider Turkey as the location for Tesla's next factory. Erdogan joins a list of world leaders who have sought to persuade one of the planet's wealthiest individuals. Erdogan and Musk have cultivated a friendship through a series of meetings in Turkey and at international gatherings, further strengthening their rapport during a recent encounter in New York. On Monday, Turkish television aired footage of Musk entering New York's Turkish House, an imposing skyscraper opposite the United Nations headquarters, accompanied by his son, whom he held on his lap during their discussions. The office of President Erdogan confirmed the Turkish leader's request for Tesla to establish its seventh factory in Turkey. According to Turkey's Anadolu state news agency, Musk indicated that Turkey ranked prominently among the leading candidates for the new factory location. Erdogan's lobbying efforts follow similar attempts by other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Musk in June, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. President Erdogan was in New York to participate in the annual UN General Assembly meeting, where he is scheduled to deliver an address on Tuesday. Currently, Tesla operates six factories, with two located outside the United States – one in Shanghai, catering to the Asian market, and another near Berlin, serving European sales. The company is also constructing a factory in Mexico and has tentative plans for one in India. Erdogan has been keen to promote Turkey's high-tech sector, best known for its Bayraktar combat drones, which played a pivotal role in Ukraine's defense against Russia's initial invasion last year. Erdogan showcased these drones during his re-election campaign in May. Furthermore, Turkey recently unveiled its first domestically-produced electric vehicle, named Togg, which relies on a steady supply of electric batteries and components. Elon Musk's SpaceX has also been collaborating with Turkey's space industry, participating in the launch of several communication satellites. President Erdogan's office disclosed that he extended an invitation to Elon Musk to attend Teknofest, a technology fair scheduled for later this month in Izmir, a western city in Turkey.