Tesla’s initial India entry is being carried out without local manufacturing, relying instead on imports that attract steep tariffs — a hurdle that Elon Musk had repeatedly cited in the past. Tesla’s long-anticipated debut in India has finally materialised, with the EV giant opening its first showroom at Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and launching online bookings for its Model Y. While this marks a milestone for India’s EV landscape, the rollout has been met with a surprising mix of excitement and frustration among potential buyers.
Tesla India made the announcement on social media, stating, “Now everyone in India can order directly on our website,” while highlighting priority delivery in four key cities — Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Gurugram, IndiaTimes reports.
The Model Y, Tesla’s first offering for India, is being imported as a completely built unit (CBU) from the company’s Shanghai Gigafactory and is priced from ₹59.89 lakh (ex-showroom). Customers can configure their car online, select features such as interiors, wheels and Enhanced Autopilot, and confirm the booking with a ₹2 lakh refundable deposit.
Customer Frustration Over Delayed Deliveries
However, the launch has triggered discontent among early backers and reservation holders. Several customers who placed deposits as early as last year — in some cases amounting to $1,000 (approx. ₹83,000) — claim to have seen no progress in their delivery timelines or received refunds without further explanation.Varun Krishnan, founder of tech blog FoneArena and an early Tesla supporter, voiced his disappointment over the lack of communication and delivery clarity. Similarly, Vishal Gondal, founder and CEO of a fitness tech firm, said he booked a Tesla Model 3 back in 2016 but felt underwhelmed after visiting the new Mumbai showroom this week.
Imported Model Y Faces Regulatory and Pricing Challenges
Tesla’s initial India entry is being carried out without local manufacturing, relying instead on imports that attract steep tariffs — a hurdle that Elon Musk had repeatedly cited in the past. Despite recent dialogues with the Indian government, the Model Y remains a premium product with limited appeal due to high costs.Still, Tesla’s move to open online bookings across India marks a shift in the company’s India strategy. Interested buyers can now select the Model Y via the official website by choosing configurations and making a refundable deposit. Once booked, a delivery advisor is assigned to assist the buyer through the next steps.
For now, the launch has set expectations high — but also raised questions about whether the brand can live up to its promise in India’s complex and competitive EV market.
