Erdogan lobbies for Musk to open Tesla plant in Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan has called on US tycoon Elon Musk to open a new Tesla factory in Turkey, becoming the last leader to lobby so on the richest man in the world.

Erdogan and Musk have held a host of meetings in Turkey and in margins at international forums, deepening friendship even more Sunday in New York.

Erdogan's office has said Monday that he has asked Tesla to open the seventh factory in Turkey.

Turkey's state news agency, Anadolu, has said Musk has told Erdogan that its state is among the most important “candidates for opening the new factory.

Efforts similar to Erdogan have been made by French President Emmanuel Marco, who has met Musk in June, as well as by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Erdogan is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

He'll give a speech on Tuesday.

Tesla currently has six factories, including two outside the United States, one in Shanghai, focused on the Asian market and another in Berlin, focused on the European market.

Currently, the company is opening a factory in Mexico and plans to have presence in India.