French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk on Friday for the second time a month to promote France as a possible site for one of the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s facilities and discuss tech regulation.
France is competing with other EU countries like Spain, which is negotiating with Tesla, to develop plants for Chinese EV giant BYD (002594. SZ) and Tesla.
“I’m going (into that meeting) with an agenda,” Macron told reporters at the VivaTech event in Paris, France’s largest innovation exhibition, where Musk will visit on Friday.
“We’ll talk about artificial intelligence, which he’s interested in, social media, regulating framework… “I’ll also talk to him about cars and batteries to promote French and European attractiveness,” Macron said.
Macron responded, “It’s up to the company to look at these different issues in Europe,” when asked if he wanted a Tesla gigafactory. Thus, we’ll promote France for investment.
Since Macron gained power, significant subsidies, a more business-friendly environment, and aggressive lobbying have helped France catch up with other European countries in the electric vehicle market.
Last month, a group of Peugeot-owner Stellantis (STLAM.MI), Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE), and French oil firm TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) opened the first of four gigafactories in its northern region.
“It will be great to have a Tesla factory in France,” French digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot told CNBC today. This is achievable because of a lot of work.”
Barrot said France had invested in an “entire sector of electric batteries” and would convince Musk “that France is the best place in Europe to establish the next Tesla factory.”
Musk told Macron and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on May 15 that Tesla would make “significant investments” in France, but he did not give a date.
Musk chose Germany for his only European gigafactory, despite France’s efforts.
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