🚗 Key Highlights
📍 Location & Launch
- Showroom: Tesla’s inaugural “Experience Centre” in India opened on July 15, 2025, at Maker Maxity Mall in Mumbai’s Bandra‑Kurla Complex (BKC)
- Inauguration: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the launch, expressed enthusiasm, and urged Tesla to consider local R&D and manufacturing
🚙 Model & Pricing
- Initial offering: Only the Tesla Model Y—imported as completely built-up units (CBUs)—will be available. Six units from Shanghai are displayed
- Variants & costs:
- Rear‑Wheel‑Drive: ₹59.9 lakh–₹60.1 lakh (ex‑showroom)
- Long‑Range: ₹67.9 lakh (ex‑showroom); on‑road prices up to ₹69.15–₹69.15 lakh depending on locale
- U.S. equivalent: About $70,000 (~₹60 lakh) due to steep import duties over 70%
- Add‑ons: Full Self‑Driving (FSD) can be optionally added for ₹6 lakh
🏙️ Market Strategy
- Entry approach: Retail‑first strategy, with no immediate plans for local manufacturing—Tesla is testing premium EV demand in major metro areas
- Next steps: A second showroom is expected in Delhi‑NCR later this month, complemented by upcoming Supercharger installations across Mumbai and Delhi‑NCR
- Policy context: Tesla’s decision follows years of negotiation, with recent shifts in India’s EV policy making this move feasible
🌍 Competitive Context
- Luxury positioning: Tesla will compete primarily with German luxury EVs (BMW, Mercedes), rather than local mass-market players
- Market size: EVs currently make up about 2–4% of India’s total vehicle sales, with the government targeting 30% by 2030
- Public response: Industry leaders welcomed Tesla—Anand Mahindra tweeted: “Welcome to India, @elonmusk and @Tesla. One of the world’s largest EV opportunities just got more exciting.”
🔍 What it Means
Tesla’s launch is a careful entry into the Indian market—starting premium, importing vehicles, gauging demand, and building infrastructure before jumping into manufacturing. This move could catalyze growth in India’s EV ecosystem and attract further investment, though high price points may limit mass adoption in the short term.
