Tesla begins India journey in Mumbai; check full price list of Model Y

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Tesla is now selling its Model Y vehicles in India, starting at around $69,770 (₹60 lakh), according to its website on Tuesday, as the electric vehicle maker prepares to open its first showroom in Mumbai, the country’s financial hub.

India is currently the world’s third-largest automobile market, though electric vehicles still account for only a small share. Concerns over the availability of charging infrastructure continue to discourage even wealthy buyers from choosing electric cars.

Also Read: Tesla’s Rs 60 lakh+ per car India entry hides a plan behind showroom glass


As Tesla prepares to take on India’s crowded roads, which remain dominated by diesel and petrol-powered vehicles, it will primarily be competing in the premium electric vehicle segment against German carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Among Indian manufacturers, Tata Motors and Mahindra are the most active in the mass-market electric vehicle space.

Security was visible outside the Tesla showroom, where the company’s logo appeared in black on a plain white wall. The Model Y was partly visible through the glass of the gated office compound on Tuesday, covered in black and grey fabric.

Strict access controls meant only a few people gathered near the location, with limited interest from the public or fans.

Musk has had an interest in entering the Indian market for some time. India is now the world’s most populous nation, and wealthy consumers are spending heavily on everything from flats and watches to jewellery and even bathrooms.

India has set a target of increasing the share of electric vehicles in its domestic car market to 30% by 2030, up from the current 4%. It has offered tax reductions to foreign carmakers willing to commit to local manufacturing.

These incentives have not strongly attracted Musk, even though the policy was partly aimed at bringing Tesla into the country.

Tesla’s debut comes just as Vietnam-based electric carmaker Vinfast begins pre-bookings in India for its VF7 and VF6 electric SUVs.

Tesla’s Model Y rear-wheel drive is priced at ₹60 lakh ($70,000) for upfront payment, while the long-range rear-wheel drive version is listed at ₹68 lakh ($79,000).

In comparison, the base Model Y costs $44,990 in the US, 263,500 yuan ($36,700) in China, and €45,970 ($53,700) in Germany.