After years of anticipation, Tesla Inc. is officially entering the Indian market, with its first showroom set to open in Mumbai by mid-July. The electric vehicle giant, led by Elon Musk, will launch operations with the Model Y, the world’s best-selling electric SUV, imported from Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory.
🚗 Tesla’s First Offering: Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive
The 2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD is a five-seater electric SUV boasting:
- Range: Up to 574 km (EPA)
- Acceleration: 0–100 kmph in 5.4 seconds
- Top Speed: 201 kmph
Tesla has already imported five units of the Model Y to Mumbai, with more expected in the coming weeks.
💰 Pricing and Import Duties
The Model Y is expected to retail at over $56,000 (approx. ₹49 lakh) before taxes and insurance, due to India’s 70% import duty on fully built EVs priced under $40,000. This premium pricing may pose a challenge in India’s value-conscious market, where EVs account for just over 5% of new car sales.
🏢 Showroom Strategy and Expansion
- First showroom: Mumbai, followed by New Delhi
- Tesla has also imported Supercharger components, accessories, and merchandise from the US, China, and the Netherlands
- Warehousing and logistics hubs are being set up in Karnataka and Gurugram
This marks the end of a long on-again, off-again saga over Tesla’s India entry, which had been delayed due to tariff disputes and manufacturing concerns.
Stay tuned for updates on Tesla’s India rollout and EV market trends.
