Tesla’s long-awaited Indian debut is finally happening
It marks the official entry of Elon Musk’s electric car empire into the world’s third-largest auto market.
After years of back-and-forth, cancelled plans, and tariff disputes, Tesla is finally getting ready to roll into India.
According to multiple reports, the company will open its first showroom, dubbed "experience centre," in Mumbai on July 15, located in the city’s upscale Bandra Kurla Complex. Deliveries could begin as early as August, marking the official entry of Elon Musk’s electric car empire into the world’s third-largest auto market.
Tesla even made things official on X (formerly Twitter), launching a dedicated India account with a simple message: an illustration of the Mumbai skyline and the caption, “Coming soon.”
Talks with the government date back years, including discussions around setting up a factory. Those plans fell through over disagreements on tariffs and local manufacturing.
This time, however, Tesla is taking a different route, starting with imports. Customs data reveals that Tesla has imported close to $1 million worth of vehicles, chargers, and accessories into India between January and June, mainly from its China and the U.S. factories. The inventory includes multiple Model Ys and several Superchargers, signalling a focused but cautious start.
Despite the hype, the road ahead isn’t smooth. The imported EVs will face a steep 70% duty, plus additional surcharges, pushing their final price well above global averages. With most cars in India selling at significantly lower price points, affordability could be a sticking point. While local manufacturing would have helped bring prices down, Tesla has indicated it has no such plans for now, despite repeated overtures from the Indian government and policy changes meant to attract EV investments.
Tesla’s entry also comes as the company battles slowing global sales and increasing competition. Its lineup is ageing, and while it remains a leading EV brand, the buzz isn’t what it used to be. Opening up new markets like India and even oil-rich Saudi Arabia earlier this year is part of its plan to reinvigorate growth.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Still, the company appears keen to test the waters. After Mumbai, a second showroom is expected to open in New Delhi before the end of July. The first few days of the Mumbai showroom will be limited to VIPs and partners before opening to the public. According to people familiar with the plans, customers will be able to begin configuring and ordering their vehicles from next week, starting with the Model Y rear-wheel drive.
Tesla is also already staffing up in India. Earlier this year, it posted more than 30 job openings in the country, including for store managers, sales and service leads, supply chain engineers, and even roles tied to its autopilot program.
Whether Tesla’s premium EVs can thrive in a price-sensitive market like India remains to be seen. But the coming weeks will offer the first real glimpse of Indian consumer appetite for high-end electric cars.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
