Thane: Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday warned that Maharashtra may reconsider the zero per cent road tax exemption on imported electric vehicles (EVs), including Tesla, following a social media post by company founder Elon Musk that he viewed as disrespectful to PM Narendra Modi .
Of the 226 Tesla vehicles reportedly sold nationwide last year, 140 were sold in the state. Additionally, of the 826 Tesla vehicles registered in India this year, 282 were in Maharashtra.
Sarnaik said Musk’s remarks undermined the dignity of India’s elected leadership and democratic institutions. “We will consider reviewing the existing 0% road tax exemption on these imported EVs and imposing an appropriate tax to register our strong disapproval,” he said in a social media post, adding that national self-respect outweighed commercial interests. Maharashtra is a significant market for Tesla.
Incidentally, Sarnaik was the first Indian to purchase a luxury Tesla which he gifted to his grandson last year while publicly expressing his preference for greener fuels.
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