Tesla Touches Down in India with High-End Model Y Launch
U.S. electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla officially entered the Indian market on Tuesday by inaugurating its first showroom in Mumbai. The company unveiled its Model Y vehicle with a starting price of approximately $70,000 or ₹6 million, making it the most expensive among Tesla’s global markets, according to a report by Reuters.
The steep pricing is attributed to high import duties and taxes, which have nearly doubled the vehicle’s cost in India. Although Tesla will initially begin operations through vehicle imports, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra confirmed the company has plans to eventually establish research and manufacturing facilities in the country.
Despite EVs constituting only around 4 percent of India’s total car sales, Tesla is targeting the premium segment of the market. The Model Y, manufactured in China, will offer the optional “Full Self-Driving” feature at an additional cost of ₹600,000. Deliveries of the vehicle are expected to begin in the third quarter of the year.
