Tesla’s India debut slows as Model Y orders fall short of target: Report
Mumbai: Tesla’s highly anticipated entry into India has suffered a setback right at the onset, as the EV maker secured just over 600 orders for its Model Y since sales began on July 15, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The figure is well below Tesla’s internal target, which had envisioned filling its quota of 2,500 vehicles this year.
The company now plans to ship only 350–500 units to India in 2025, with the first batch expected from its Shanghai plant in early September, according to the report.
Deliveries will initially be restricted to Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Gurugram—the four cities where Tesla currently has a presence.
The muted response comes despite Tesla’s aggressive push into India with the Model Y, priced at ₹59.89 lakh for the RWD and ₹67.89 lakh for the Long Range RWD (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The model promises up to 622 km range, rapid charging on V4 Superchargers, and a self-driving package priced at ₹6 lakh, subject to regulatory clearance.
Tesla had hoped for a more favourable duty regime amid talk of a potential India–US trade deal. Instead, the landscape has worsened as Washington imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods in retaliation for New Delhi’s Russian oil imports, dampening Tesla’s hopes of a price break in one of the world’s most cost-sensitive auto markets.
The company opened its first showroom in Mumbai on July 15, followed by a Delhi experience centre in August. Its first Supercharging hub was also unveiled in Mumbai, priced at ₹24/kWh for V4 DC charging.
Despite the slow start, Tesla has already begun building its ecosystem—rolling out showrooms, charging hubs, and limited deliveries—in a bid to test India’s nascent but fast-growing EV market.
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