Musk thinks Tesla is close to establishing a local presence in Russia

Russia would be a surprise choice for a Tesla factory location anytime soon.

Elon Musk spoke warmly of Russia during a Kremlin-sponsored event for students, praising its history of achievements in space and expressing openness to one day building a Tesla Inc. factory in the country.
 

The chief executive officer took questions for roughly 45 minutes at the invitation of Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman. The topics the eccentric billionaire covered were familiar, ranging from his hiring practices to artificial intelligence and the future of human consciousness.
 

“I think we’re close to establishing a Tesla presence in Russia, and I think that would be great,” Musk said. “Over time, we will look to