Tesla has officially entered the Indian market by opening its first showroom in Mumbai. This new store, known as a Tesla Experience Centre, is located in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), one of the city’s most expensive commercial areas. The showroom covers 4,000 square feet and marks Tesla’s first physical presence in India.
The Mumbai showroom currently displays the Tesla Model Y, an all-electric SUV. A total of six Model Y vehicles were imported from Shanghai to showcase in the store. Photos on social media showed the cars being moved into the store on a flatbed truck. One of the cars, finished in dark grey with black wheels, was seen partly covered inside the showroom before the launch.
Tesla is offering two versions of the Model Y in India—Long Range RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive) and Long Range AWD (All-Wheel Drive). The car has a stylish coupe-like design and a dual-tone black-and-white interior. It features a large 15.4-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, USB-C ports, voice command features, internet connectivity, and app-based controls.
The Model Y will cost Rs 59.89 lakh onwards in India. This high price is due to heavy import duties on completely built units (CBUs). Currently, India charges between 70% and 100% as import tax on such vehicles. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has criticized these high tariffs and has asked the Indian government to lower them so that Tesla cars can become more affordable. However, the government has maintained that Tesla must build vehicles locally to get tax benefits.
There is still no official announcement from Tesla about starting a manufacturing plant or assembly line in India. But the opening of the Mumbai showroom shows that the company is interested in testing how Indian customers respond to its electric cars. Tesla may also open more stores in other big cities like New Delhi soon.
With this launch, Tesla has taken its first step toward a potential expansion in the Indian market.
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