Tesla, the electric car giant led by Elon Musk, is finally making its debut in India. According to a Bloomberg report, Tesla is opening its first showroom in Mumbai on Tuesday and plans to begin car deliveries as early as next month.
Mumbai Showroom Opens First
The upcoming Tesla showroom in Mumbai will let visitors explore different models, compare prices, and choose car features that match their needs. People familiar with the plan said that customers will be able to start placing orders as early as next week. This showroom marks the company’s first official step into India’s fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) space.
Deliveries May Begin by End of August
Tesla’s popular Model Y SUV has already been shipped to India from its production facility in China. The first deliveries are likely to start by the end of August. Reports also suggest that a second showroom is in the works, this time in New Delhi, and could open by late July.
This launch comes at a time when Tesla’s global sales have seen a slowdown, and the company is now focusing on India — the third-largest car market in the world — to find new customers. While interest in electric vehicles is increasing in India, high import taxes continue to keep EV prices on the higher side.
Model Y: A Big Test in the Indian Market
The Model Y is Tesla’s best-selling electric car globally, but it will face pricing challenges in India. Since the country imposes a 70% import tax on electric vehicles under $40,000, the car could be much more expensive than its U.S. price of around $46,000. Documents from last month showed that five Model Y units arrived with a base value of around 27.7 lakh each, excluding duties.
The showroom’s first week will be open only to VIPs and business associates, with public access expected to start the following week. Tesla has not officially confirmed these developments, but for Indian fans, the wait for a Tesla is almost over.
