Latest news with #ElonMusk-founded
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Tesla's Mumbai showroom opening almost here: Why did its India debut take years?
Elon Musk-founded Tesla is all set to open the doors of its first-ever showroom in India. The EV maker is scheduled to inaugurate its showroom in Mumbai on Tuesday, July 15. The store is located at Bandra Kurla Complex, the city's leading commercial business district, according to an invite sent to media houses. Tesla also operates a service and warehouse centre that is located around six kilometres away from the showroom. Over the past few months, the company has been importing vehicles, chargers, and other accessories worth over $1 million into India from China and the US, according to a report by Reuters. Based on documents, the report said that the import shipments included six of Tesla's best-selling Model Y. Hence, these cars can be expected to be on display at the showroom. Over three dozen people have reportedly been hired to work at the Tesla experience centre in Mumbai, including board store managers as well as sales and service executives. It has also advertised for vacancies for supply chain engineers and vehicle operators responsible for collecting data for its autopilot feature. Tuesday's inauguration officially marks Tesla's entry into the world's third-largest car market. It comes at a time when the EV maker is grappling with declining sales in key markets like China. It is also facing issues with excess manufacturing capacity. Since Tesla will be selling imported cars in India, it will reportedly need to pay about 70% import duty and other levies. CEO Elon Musk has previously complained about India's high import tariffs. Additionally, the showroom has received clearance from the authorities. 'A trade certificate has been granted to Tesla India following due inspection of the facilities mentioned in their application,' a senior Regional Transport Office (RTO) official was quoted as saying by PTI. 'This includes the showroom, vehicle parking area and warehousing facility,' they added. Meanwhile, a newly created Tesla India handle on X posted: 'Coming soon'. Coming soon — Tesla India (@Tesla_India) July 11, 2025 In 2016, Musk had announced that pre-bookings for its Model 3 would be available for customers from many countries outside North America, including India. Soon, many customers in India put up a refundable deposit of $1000 (approx. Rs 85,000 at current exchange rate). Earlier this year, the company initiated refunds to those who had paid the reservation fee as the Model 3 has now been discontinued. 'We would like to return your reservation fee for the time being. When we finalize our offerings in India, we will reach out in the market again. We hope to see you back with us once we are ready to launch and deliver in your country,' Tesla said in emails to the early bookers, according to a report by Bloomberg. Tesla has long expressed interest in India. However, its plans to start commercial operations in the country were delayed due to government policies and import duty concerns. Once the world's top EV seller, Tesla is facing increased competition from Chinese EV makers, particularly BYD, as global EV sales growth has tapered. BYD is said to have an edge in terms of auto technology as well as pricing. It reported sales of over 318,000 passenger vehicles in February, up over 150 per cent from a year earlier, and the Chinese company's Hong Kong-listed shares are already up nearly 50 per cent this year. Meanwhile, Tesla shares have been tanking, falling close to 15 per cent and erasing around $150 billion in market value. The feud between Musk and US President Donald Trump has reportedly had a significant bearing on the company's stock market performance. Without the most influential American's political backing behind its founder gone, Tesla could also run into headwinds in the US. The central government has been wooing Tesla to manufacture locally for several years now. In a bid to attract the carmaker, the PM Modi-led government introduced a new policy that offered companies a reduced duty of 15 per cent if they set up manufacturing locally and committed to investing $500 million in India. In June this year, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that global EV makers like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen-Škoda, Hyundai and Kia have shown interest in applying under the ministry's flagship Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India. However, Tesla is not keen on manufacturing in India, the minister said. This comes amid some political pressure, with President Trump stating that it would be unfair to the US if Tesla were to circumvent tariffs imposed by India by building a factory in this country. Kumaraswamy had said that Tesla is planning to open two retail stores in India, including the Mumbai one. It is unclear where the company is looking to launch the second showroom in the country. According to LinkedIn posts, Tesla has invited job applications for store managers in Delhi.
India Today
7 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Turkey blocks Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok over insults to President Erdogan
A Turkish court on Wednesday blocked access to some content from Grok, developed by Elon Musk-founded company xAI, after authorities said the chatbot generated responses insulting President Tayyip Erdogan, modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and religious over political bias, hate speech and factual inaccuracies in AI chatbots have mounted since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, with Grok dropping content accused of antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf chief prosecutor's office said it had launched an investigation, and marked Turkey's first such ban on content from an artificial intelligence tool. Authorities cited violations of laws that make such insults a criminal offence punishable by up to four years in X, nor its owner Elon Musk could immediately be reached for comment. They have not referred to the decision on the month, Musk promised an upgrade to Grok, suggesting there was "far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data".Grok, which is integrated into X, reportedly generated offensive content about Erdoan and Atatrk when asked certain questions in Turkish, the media Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) adopted the ban after the court and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu was later cited by broadcaster NTV as saying that Turkey had not yet imposed a total access ban on Grok but that it would do so if necessary, adding Turkish authorities would discuss the issue with Akdeniz, a cyber law expert at Istanbul Bilgi University, said authorities had identified some 50 posts by Grok as the basis for the investigation, ruling on the access ban and removal of certain content to "protect public order"."Turkey has become the first country to impose censorship on Grok," he said on has in recent years significantly increased oversight of social media platforms and online streaming services, passing laws to give authorities more control over content, detaining or arresting individuals for posts, launching probes into companies and limiting or blocking access to certain say the law is frequently used to stifle dissent, while the government maintains it is necessary to protect the dignity of the office.- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
X's Grog Chatbot Blocked In Turkey After Responses Insulted Erdogan
A Turkish court has blocked access to Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by the Elon Musk-founded company xAI, after it generated responses that authorities said included insults to President Tayyip Erdogan. Issues of political bias, hate speech and accuracy of AI chatbots have been a concern since at least the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, with Grok dropping content accused of antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf Hitler. The office of Ankara's chief prosecutor has launched a formal investigation into the incident, it said on Wednesday, in Turkey's first such ban on access to an AI tool. Neither X nor its owner Elon Musk has commented on the decision. Last month, Musk promised an upgrade to Grok, suggesting there was "far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data". Grok, which is integrated into X, reportedly generated offensive content about Erdogan when asked certain questions in Turkish, media said. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) adopted the ban after a court order, citing violations of Turkey's laws that make insults to the president a criminal offence, punishable with up to four years in jail. Critics say the law is frequently used to stifle dissent, while the government maintains it is necessary to protect the dignity of the office.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Turkey blocks X's Grok chatbot for alleged insults to Erdogan
A Turkish court has blocked access to Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by the Elon Musk-founded company xAI, after it generated responses that authorities said included insults to President Tayyip Erdogan. Issues of political bias, hate speech and accuracy of AI chatbots have been a concern since at least the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, with Grok dropping content accused of antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf Hitler. The office of Ankara's chief prosecutor has launched a formal investigation into the incident, it said on Wednesday, in Turkey's first such ban on access to an AI tool. Neither X nor its owner Elon Musk has commented on the decision. Last month, Musk promised an upgrade to Grok, suggesting there was 'far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data'. Grok, which is integrated into X, reportedly generated offensive content about Erdogan when asked certain questions in Turkish, media said. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) adopted the ban after a court order, citing violations of Turkey's laws that make insults to the president a criminal offence, punishable with up to four years in jail. Critics say the law is frequently used to stifle dissent, while the government maintains it is necessary to protect the dignity of the office.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Turkey blocks X's Grok chatbot for alleged insults to Erdogan
A Turkish court has blocked access to Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by the Elon Musk-founded company xAI, after it generated responses that authorities said included insults to President Tayyip Erdogan. Issues of political bias, hate speech and accuracy of AI chatbots have been a concern since at least the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, with Grok dropping content accused of antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf Hitler. The office of Ankara's chief prosecutor has launched a formal investigation into the incident, it said on Wednesday, in Turkey's first such ban on access to an AI tool. Neither X nor its owner Elon Musk has commented on the decision. Last month, Musk promised an upgrade to Grok, suggesting there was "far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data". Grok, which is integrated into X, reportedly generated offensive content about Erdogan when asked certain questions in Turkish, media said. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) adopted the ban after a court order, citing violations of Turkey's laws that make insults to the president a criminal offence, punishable with up to four years in jail. Critics say the law is frequently used to stifle dissent, while the government maintains it is necessary to protect the dignity of the office.
