Elon Musk-owned Tesla has officially entered the Indian market.
The electric carmaker opened its first showroom in the country — called an “Experience Center,” — in Mumbai’s upscale Bandra Kurla Complex. This marks a major milestone for Tesla, nearly a decade after CEO Elon Musk first hinted at bringing the company to India back in 2016.
The newly launched showroom spans 4,000 square feet and currently features the Model Y, available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and long-range RWD versions. These vehicles are being imported from Tesla’s Shanghai factory and carry premium pricing. The base Model Y RWD is priced at approximately $68,000, while the long-range RWD variant costs around $79,000. Customers also have the option to add Tesla’s full self-driving feature for an additional $7,000.
Bookings are now open for buyers in Delhi, Gurugram, and Mumbai. To reserve a vehicle, customers must place a non-refundable deposit of $260. Tesla has announced that deliveries for the standard RWD model will begin in the third quarter of this year, with the long-range variant expected to follow in the fourth quarter.
In preparation for the rollout, Tesla is also building its charging infrastructure in India. The company has committed to setting up four charging stations, each in Mumbai and Delhi, which will include fast Superchargers and standard destination chargers. A second Tesla store is also expected to open in Delhi later this month as part of its early expansion phase.
Tesla’s move comes at a time when India is pushing hard for electric vehicle adoption, aiming for 30% of all vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. Despite being the fourth-largest auto market globally, India’s EV scene is still developing and has been largely dominated by two-wheelers and small urban vehicles so far.
Elon Musk’s interest in India dates back several years, but high import duties, policy disagreements, and logistical concerns have stalled the launch. Tesla had previously accepted deposits from Indian customers for the Model 3, only to refund them later due to uncertainties around the launch. In recent years, Musk has personally engaged with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss the possibility of entering the market and even setting up manufacturing in the country.
Although India had been urging Tesla to build a local factory, the company has so far decided to stick with imports. A breakthrough came earlier this year when the Indian government reduced import taxes on electric vehicles, making it financially easier for Tesla to sell its cars without a domestic manufacturing base. However, the company has indicated that once an India-EU free trade agreement is signed, it may start importing vehicles from its Berlin plant as well.
Tesla has quietly been building a local team, hiring talent in Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune. However, the company currently does not have a designated head for its India operations. Following the departure of Prashanth Menon, who previously led Tesla’s efforts in the region, CFO Vaibhav Taneja has taken charge of overseeing India, supported by a local board managing policy, sales, and HR matters.
This launch comes at a critical time for Tesla, which is grappling with growing competition and declining sales in several major markets. In China, rivals like BYD have gained significant ground. In Europe and the U.S., Tesla’s year-over-year sales have dropped sharply, with the second quarter of 2025 marking the third consecutive quarter of declining global deliveries. Despite this, Tesla executives remain optimistic about the Indian market, calling it “very hot” and full of potential.
If this article helped you, please consider supporting our work. Every small contribution keeps Abijita.com independent and running.
While the road ahead in India may still have its bumps, Tesla’s official debut is a sign that the company is ready to take the long-awaited leap into one of the world’s most promising but challenging automotive landscapes.
