Business
Tesla Sets to Launch in India as Elon Musk Meets Prime Minister Modi
Tesla is launching its plans to enter the Indian market, signaling a significant shift in the country’s automotive landscape. CEO Elon Musk recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The company is actively recruiting for key positions and scouting locations for showrooms in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, with plans to commence sales in the third quarter of 2025.
This has caused unease among local automakers, who are concerned about retaining affluent customers despite Tesla’s potential market entry.
The Indian electric vehicle (EV) market faces challenges, including high vehicle prices and insufficient charging infrastructure.
Tesla’s advanced technology could give it an edge, but high import duties may push prices to around 3.5 million rupees ($40,377), compared to an average of 1.2 million rupees for Indian cars.
In response to these challenges, the Indian government has introduced a new EV policy to attract foreign automakers like Tesla.
The policy offers reduced import tariffs for companies investing in local manufacturing, requiring a minimum investment of $500 million.
However, only 5% of this investment can be allocated to charging infrastructure, emphasizing the government’s focus on vehicle production.
Financial markets have reacted to Tesla’s impending entry. Indian auto stocks experienced minor gains, with the Nifty 50 rising by 0.13% and the BSE Sensex increasing by 0.24%.
Financial stocks gained 0.3% after a 2% slide over the previous three sessions. However, market sentiment remains cautious due to global trade uncertainties and concerns over increased competition.
The cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas in Nigeria went up slightly in May 2025, rising by 2.18% compared to the previous month. The average price now stands at N20,709.11, up from N20,268.06 recorded in April. This update was captured in the latest Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Price Watch report for May, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
According to the report, Delta State topped the list with the highest refill price at N23,356.56, followed by Abia at N22,953.01, and Ebonyi at N22,943.30. On the other hand, residents in Yobe, Lagos, and Kebbi states paid the least, with refill prices of N18,500, N18,536, and N18,606.60, respectively.
When compared to the same period last year, gas prices have jumped significantly, rising by 32% from N15,627.40 recorded in May 2024 to the current average. The NBS is yet to release figures for June 2025.
Customers of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) across Nigeria should brace for early branch closures on Monday, June 30, 2025, as the banking group kicks off its routine half-year audit.
In an official announcement shared on their verified X (formerly Twitter) page, GTCO informed customers that all their branches nationwide will stop attending to walk-in customers earlier than usual to allow for internal review processes.
The bank assured the public that this temporary adjustment is strictly for operational reasons tied to their mandatory half-year audit, a common practice among financial institutions to check financial records, processes, and compliance levels.
While in-person services will pause earlier that day, GTCO encouraged customers to make use of their digital banking platforms. Options such as internet banking, mobile apps, ATMs, and USSD codes, which will remain available 24/7 for essential banking transactions.
MRS filling stations, a key partner of Dangote Refinery, has announced a new petrol price hike, raising its pump prices across the country. In a price update shared on its official X page on Saturday, the company revealed that the new rates now range from N925 to N955 per litre, up from the previous N825 to N895 range.
This means petrol will now sell for N925 in Lagos, N935 in the South-west, N955 in the North-west and South-east, N945 in the North-central, and N955 in the North-east. For Lagos and Abuja, motorists will now pay N925 and N945 per litre at MRS stations, an increase from N875 and N895 respectively.
Meanwhile, NNPC retail stations have kept their pump prices unchanged at N875 in Lagos and N895 in Abuja as of Saturday evening. The nationwide increase comes amid rising global crude oil prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
