Tesla Finally to Enter India With Fully-Build Model Y, Searching for Showrooms

Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle major Tesla is gearing up to enter India later this year. Tesla plans to use a "top-down approach," starting with expensive models before launching its more affordable EVs.

The leading EV manufacturer is reportedly set to import the fully-built Model Y from its Berlin Gigafactory, as the EV is manufactured in the right-hand drive option in the European facility.

According to reports, the Tesla Model Y would cost Indian customers Rs 60-75 lakh after the government's revised import duty structure was recently announced.

India has revised its basic custom duty on expensive cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%. However, the right-hand drive Tesla Model 3 is also manufactured in Shanghai, but it's unlikely to be imported into India due to constraints on Chinese car imports.

The reports clarify that Tesla has no plan to set up local assembly plants in India for Tesla vehicles. However, the plans can change if the EV manufacturer gets a promising response.

Moreover, Tesla is reportedly searching for locations in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai and Aerocity in Delhi to set up its first showrooms in the country. On LinkedIn, the EV major has advertised around 13 new jobs, mostly for Mumbai and Delhi markets. The key roles include operation analysts, service technicians, and various advertising roles.

The recent development came into the news when PM Narendra Modi visited the US, where he met Musk and discussed various issues like space, mobility, and technology. Elon Musk also eyes the idea of developing a more affordable and practical version of the Tesla EV for the Indian market.

For Middle East EV car buyers, several promising Tesla cars are already available in the market. Some popular EV cars in UAE from this EV manufacturer include the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, and Tesla Model S. In UAE, the Tesla Model 3 is the most affordable and best-selling EV in UAE from Tesla, and it is currently available at the base price of AED 179,990. The Tesla Model Y, Model S, and Model X are the top-end expensive models with starting prices of AED 189,900, AED 374,990, and AED 403,990, respectively.