Tesla has lastly launched in India after a number of false begins. Nonetheless, the automaker isn’t making the most of the deal to keep away from tariffs, leading to costs that don’t make a lot sense for the market.
India was the most important market by which Tesla had but to launch its autos.
There have been a number of makes an attempt to launch within the nation during the last 5 years, however they had been all the time canceled.
Over the previous few months, a brand new initiative has been underway, and it has proven promise.
It got here after India lastly reached a compromise on its import duties on automobiles final 12 months, opening the door for Tesla and different EV automakers to launch within the nation.
The deal includes considerably decreasing import duties for a restricted variety of electrical autos, offered the automaker makes a considerable funding and dedication to determine an electrical car manufacturing unit in India inside the coming years.
Since then, Tesla has began hiring service and gross sales workers, and there have been a number of stories that the automaker is closing in on some retail and repair places.
Nevertheless, we discovered earlier this 12 months that Tesla reportedly knowledgeable India that it had no plans to fabricate EVs within the nation. Subsequently, it didn’t plan to reap the benefits of the deal to keep away from import duties.
Now, Tesla has formally opened Mannequin Y orders in India and quotes first deliveries in Q3 2025:
Tesla is promoting the Mannequin Y RWD for ₹61,07,190, which is the equal of $71,000 USD, and the Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary is ₹69,15,190 or the equal of $80,000 USD.
These costs are virtually twice what folks pay within the US. Subsequently, it’s clear that Tesla shouldn’t be making the most of the deal for lowered duties with the promise of an funding in EV manufacturing.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla will see little to no demand for the Mannequin Y in India at this value.
Many thought that Tesla would match the launch in India with the brand new stripped-down Mannequin Y, which might be cheaper, however apparently not.
Even then, with the import duties, the stripped-down Mannequin Y would nonetheless be the equal of about $60,000 USD in India, and that’s nonetheless manner an excessive amount of.
I’m unsure what the plan is right here.
