French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to meet with Tesla CEO Elon Musk for the second time in just over a month. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the possibility of France becoming a site for one of Tesla’s electric vehicle (EV) factories, as well as to engage in conversations about technology regulation.
France has been actively pursuing major players in the EV industry, including Chinese company BYD and Tesla, in an effort to attract them to establish factories within the country. However, they face competition from other European Union nations such as Spain, which is also engaged in talks with Tesla, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Macron shared his agenda for the meeting with reporters while attending the VivaTech summit, France’s largest tech fair, which Musk is set to visit. He expressed his intention to discuss artificial intelligence, social media, and regulatory frameworks, all of which Musk has been involved in. Additionally, Macron emphasized that he would promote France and Europe as attractive destinations for investments in the automotive industry, focusing on cars and batteries.
When asked specifically about the possibility of securing a Tesla gigafactory, Macron stated that it is ultimately up to the company to consider different issues across Europe, but France is eager to present itself as a compelling investment destination.
In recent years, France has been making notable progress in its aim to position itself as a leading hub for the electric vehicle sector. This has been facilitated by substantial subsidies, a business-friendly environment, and strong lobbying efforts since Macron assumed office. The northern region of the country has already attracted four gigafactory projects, with the first one inaugurated last month through a partnership between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies.
Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Minister for Digital Affairs, expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of a Tesla factory in France. He highlighted the substantial efforts made to ensure that such an opportunity becomes a reality. Barrot also mentioned France’s investments in the electric battery sector and emphasized the country’s determination to convince Musk that France is the ideal location for Tesla’s next factory in Europe.
During their previous meeting on May 15, Musk expressed confidence that Tesla would make significant investments in France in the future. However, he did not provide a specific timeline. It should be noted that when France previously attempted to persuade Musk to establish a gigafactory in the country, he ultimately chose Germany as the location for Tesla’s only European gigafactory to date.
