American electric vehicle brand Tesla has officially kick-started its India journey with the launch of the Model Y. The company opened its first Tesla Experience Centre at Maker Maxity in the Bandra-Kurla Complex area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, which was inaugurated by the state’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. Welcoming the popular EV brand, Fadnavis said that India will be a very important market for Tesla and assured support for the company’s plans.
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Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “I think this is not just the inauguration of an Experience Centre, but it is a statement. A statement that Tesla has arrived. A statement that Tesla has arrived in the right city and the right state – that is the state of Maharashtra and the City of Mumbai, which is the entrepreneur capital of India. Not just the financial, commercial, and entertainment capital of India, but also the entrepreneur capital of India.”
Tesla first announced its plan to enter the Indian market back in 2016, with the launch of the Model 3. However, due to unfavourable policies, the plan saw a lot of back and forth, creating a “Will they, won't they” situation. Addressing the decade-long delay in the brand’s arrival, Fadnavis said, “It took you 10 years, to come to India, but we are very happy that you are here, and I am sure that the people of Mumbai and the people of India are going to love Tesla, and you are going to have one of your best markets, in India when you start delivering. That’s because people in India were waiting for when Tesla enters the Indian market.”
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As expected, the new Tesla Model Y will be sold in India as a completely built-up unit (CBU) and thus commands a premium price of Rs. 59.89 lakh for the Standard Range, and Rs. 67.89 lakh (ex-showroom). Compared to the US, the Model Y is priced almost twice as much, a direct result of the high import duty on fully imported vehicles. To solve this issue, Fadnavis wants Tesla to consider local manufacturing.
In his speech, Fadnavis said, “I must also mention that we have now, in India, and especially in Maharashtra a very big and robust market for electric mobility. We are also a manufacturing hub of electric mobility now, but I think Tesla is going to change the entire market. And I think you must also look at our policies because we have very good policies towards creating charging infrastructure, promoting EVs, and also the best incentives towards manufacturing electric vehicles. So, I think it’s a good start, but eventually, in future, we wish to see all the R&D and manufacturing being done in India, and I am sure at an appropriate stage, Tesla will think about that.”
Bookings are now open for the Model Y, with the reservation amount set at Rs 22,220 (Rs 3 lakh to be paid within a week of booking). Deliveries of the Model Y are set to begin in the third quarter of this calendar year.
