Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is all set to open its first showrooms in India this July. This move marks the company’s official entry into India, the world’s third-largest car market. Tesla is expanding globally as sales have slowed down in Europe and China.
Tesla Showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi
According to reports, Tesla’s first showroom will open in Mumbai by mid-July, followed by another one in New Delhi. The company has already brought in various items from the US, China, and the Netherlands, including:
- Charging stations (Superchargers)
- Car accessories
- Tesla-branded merchandise
- Spare parts
Model Y Arrives in India
Tesla has delivered its first five Model Y SUVs to Mumbai. These vehicles came from Tesla’s Shanghai factory in China. Model Y is currently the world’s best-selling electric car.
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Each imported car was priced at around ₹27.7 lakh ($31,988). But with India’s high import tax (over 70%), the total duty added more than ₹21 lakh to the cost.
How Much Will a Tesla Cost in India?
Because of the high taxes and import costs, Tesla’s Model Y is expected to be priced above $56,000 (approx. ₹47 lakh) before taxes and insurance in India.
- In comparison, the same car costs $44,990 in the US, and after discounts and tax credits, the price goes down to $37,490.
- This high price may be a hurdle in India, where buyers are very price-conscious.
Right now, electric cars make up only 5% of new car sales in India. Luxury cars make up less than 2%.
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Tesla’s Future Plans in India
Tesla is now working on:
- Hiring more staff for charging stations, showroom operations, and government policy roles
- Setting up warehouses in Karnataka
- Expanding its storage space in Gurugram (near Delhi)
No ‘Make in India’ for Now
Tesla has not shown any interest in building cars in India. They are only focused on opening showrooms. India’s Heavy Industries Minister confirmed this.
Although Tesla joined the first meeting about India’s plan to promote local EV manufacturing, they skipped the next two meetings. This shows that for now, Tesla isn’t planning any ‘Make in India’ moves.
Even US President Donald Trump has criticized the idea of Tesla setting up factories in India, calling it “very unfair.”
Tesla is finally entering the Indian market by opening showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi. However, high car prices and no plans for local manufacturing could make it challenging to attract Indian customers.
