Mumbai, India – Electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla has officially entered the Indian market with the grand opening of its first showroom at the upscale Maker Maxity Mall in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). This marks a milestone moment in India’s clean mobility journey and signals Tesla’s cautious but significant foray into one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets.
The launch, which took place on Tuesday, comes after a weekend teaser by Tesla’s India-specific X (formerly Twitter) handle that simply read “Coming Soon,” paired with a sleek graphic hinting at the company’s July debut.
Warm Welcome from Maharashtra’s CM
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, present at the inauguration, welcomed Tesla’s entry with great enthusiasm.
“This is not just the inauguration of an experience centre but a statement that Tesla has arrived—arrived in the right city and state, that is Mumbai, Maharashtra,” Fadnavis said.
He further praised the brand, calling Tesla “not just a car company, but a symbol of innovation and sustainability.”
Tesla Model Y Price in India
With the showroom launch, Tesla also announced prices for its first vehicle offering in India – the Model Y. The on-road price of the base rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant starts at approximately ₹61 lakh, while the long-range RWD variant begins at ₹69.5 lakh (approx).
🔹 Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive – Price Breakdown:
- Base Price: ₹59.89 lakh
- GST: ₹2,92,818
- TCS (1%): ₹59,890
- Admin & Service Fee: ₹50,000
- Road Tax & Charges: ₹7,500
- Fastag: ₹800
- Total Estimated On-Road: ~₹61 lakh
🔹 Model Y Long-Range RWD – Price Breakdown:
- Base Price: ₹67.89 lakh
- GST: ₹3,30,913
- TCS (1%): ₹67,890
- Admin & Service Fee: ₹50,000
- Road Tax & Charges: ₹7,500
- Fastag: ₹800
- Total Estimated On-Road: ~₹69.5 lakh
No Manufacturing in India (Yet)
Despite increasing optimism surrounding Tesla’s India plans, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy, recently confirmed that Tesla has no current plans to manufacture cars in India.
“There is no further development about Tesla,” Kumaraswamy stated last month, indicating that the brand is focusing solely on sales through showrooms, with imports likely to drive early operations.
Strategic Entry: Sales Now, Production Later?
While Tesla has kept its cards close to the chest, its recent moves – including hiring staff in India and high-level conversations between CEO Elon Musk and Indian PM Narendra Modi – indicate growing interest in the Indian market.
Musk, while openly praising India’s potential, has also highlighted high import duties as a key challenge. However, the new EV policy introduced by the Indian government, offering reduced import tariffs and incentives to global EV manufacturers, could open the door for more aggressive Tesla expansion in the coming years.
A telephonic conversation in April and a prior meeting in February between Musk and Modi centered around EV collaboration, advanced manufacturing, and space technology partnerships.
Why India Matters to Tesla
India presents a huge market opportunity with its rapidly expanding middle class, increasing urbanisation, and growing demand for clean mobility solutions. With EV adoption gaining momentum and government policies aligning with sustainability goals, Tesla’s entry could mark a turning point for the premium EV segment in India.
Though Model Y’s price may limit its appeal to a niche customer base, Tesla’s presence itself could spark greater competition, push for faster EV infrastructure development, and influence market standards for innovation and sustainability.
What’s Next?
Tesla’s Mumbai showroom serves as an experience and booking centre for now. While deliveries are yet to begin, prospective buyers can now engage with Tesla’s offerings firsthand.
As India and Tesla continue to explore collaboration opportunities, the question remains — will Tesla build in India next?
For now, the American EV pioneer is taking its first official step — and Mumbai is the beginning of what could be a transformative journey for India’s electric mobility future.
