Elon Musk-led vehicle giant Tesla has finally opened its showroom in India at the Maker Maxity Mall in Mumbai. Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated the 4,000-square-foot experience centre. On this occasion, the company launched its crossover electric SUV Model Y. As shared by the company, the lower variant of this car will travel up to 500 kilometers on a single full charge. It is a significant step for the company as well as India’s automobile industry.
Tesla’s experience center is a modern and minimalist space, designed according to the company’s global standard. It has a white-themed interior, a lightbox highlighting the company’s innovation, and stunning visuals to celebrate India’s culture. It creates a perfect blend of world-class technology and local flavor. Customers can easily visit to learn about the technology and experience Tesla. For now, test drives and vehicle deliveries have not started yet.
The much-awaited electric SUV of Tesla, Model Y, is the first vehicle that is showcased at the Mumbai showroom. It will be available in long-range RWD and long-range AWD variants. The first batch of these has reached a fully ready unit from Tesla’s factory. The price is around 60 lakh, while the final cost will be affected by India’s import duties on EVs that presently stand at up to 70%.
Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex was chosen as the ideal site, which is also known as the city’s premier financial and commercial district. The monthly rent of the place is reported to be around 35-38 lakh.
In the early months of 2025, Tesla showed interest in recruiting employees in India. After this, the discussion around Tesla’s entry into the Indian market started circulating. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has already shown his interest in investing in India, but he said the high import tax imposed in the country is the biggest hurdle.
The government has recently announced a new EV policy. Under it, many facilities and low import taxes have been offered to the global EV car companies. Hence, there is a possibility that Tesla will enter the EV manufacturing market in India shortly.
Discussions are continuously going on about Tesla’s plans in India. The Union Heavy Industries Ministry has already stated that Tesla will not be doing production in India as well. For now, it is mostly focused on selling its cars in India.
Although, according to several media reports, Tesla is discussing with the government about the possibility of local manufacturing assembly, which could help lower prices in the coming days. More Tesla outlets are in the pipeline to be opened in Delhi and Bengaluru.
Tesla is entering India when it is facing continuous challenges in its two major markets, America and China. The company’s sales are continuing to decline, and it is facing tough competition from BYD Company. Besides China, the BYD Company is giving tough competition to Tesla.
Tesla has high hopes for India. Although the Indian EV market is not that big, Tesla may have to work hard to get a solid foothold here.