French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his scheduled meeting with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, which is set to take place on Friday.
On the second occasion in slightly over a month, French officials are actively engaging in efforts to promote France as a potential location for one of the factories of major electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
Macron’s Agenda with Elon Musk Revealed
Furthermore, the officials intend to engage in conversations pertaining to the regulation of technology. They have revealed that France has been actively seeking the participation of prominent Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers BYD and Tesla, while simultaneously facing competition from other European Union nations like Spain, which is also engaged in discussions with Tesla.
During a visit to the VivaTech summit in Paris, France’s largest technology fair, President Macron informed reporters that he has a specific agenda for his meeting with Elon Musk.
The agenda includes discussions on artificial intelligence, in which Musk is involved, social media, regulatory frameworks, as well as conversations about automobiles and batteries to promote the attractiveness of France and Europe in these domains.
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French Minister Advocates for a Factory in France
Macron clarified that it is ultimately up to the company to evaluate various factors in Europe and decide on its own, and France will present itself as an investment destination.
France has been making progress in its ambition to become a hub for the electric vehicle industry, catching up with other European countries. This has been made possible through generous subsidies, a more business-friendly environment, and assertive lobbying efforts since Macron assumed power.
The northern region of France has successfully attracted four gigafactory projects, with the first one being inaugurated last month by a consortium consisting of Stellantis (owner of Peugeot), Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, a French oil major.
Today, Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Minister for Digital Affairs, expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of a Tesla factory in France.
Barrot highlighted the substantial efforts and energy invested to create the conditions necessary for such an establishment. He further mentioned France’s investments in the electric battery sector and conveyed the intention to convince Musk that France is the optimal choice within Europe for establishing Tesla’s next factory.
During a meeting with Macron and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on May 15, Musk expressed confidence that Tesla would make noteworthy investments in France in the future, without specifying a timeline.
France had previously attempted to persuade Musk to establish a gigafactory in the country, but he ultimately chose Germany as the location for his only such plant in Europe thus far.
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