Back in July 2025, Tesla commenced its India journey with the launch of the Model Y, priced between Rs 59.89 lakh and Rs 67.89 lakh (ex-showroom). Despite being heavily priced due to import duties, the electric SUV has garnered over 600 bookings.
Deliveries of the Tesla Model Y will commence this month, with priority given to Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram and Pune.
A recent Bloomberg report says this is much lower than Tesla’s target of selling all 2,500 units allotted for India this year. To put it in perspective, Tesla sells around 600 cars in its global markets every four hours.
In India, CBU (completely built unit) imported vehicles, like the Tesla Model Y, attract a hefty 110% of taxes, making them very expensive. However, to boost local EV manufacturing, the Indian government introduced the SPMEPCI scheme, offering a much lower 15% import duty. However, Tesla is currently not interested in manufacturing its cars locally, it can’t benefit from this policy.
Market analysts also point out that Tesla’s current approach in India is more of a “brand establishment” exercise than a volume-driven strategy. With EV adoption steadily rising in the country, the company may be testing the waters before making a bigger commitment. Still, given that mass-market buyers in India are highly price-sensitive, the Model Y’s positioning keeps it limited to a niche audience.
Also Read: GST Council Slashes Taxes On Small Cars, Bikes & Three-Wheelers To 18%
About the Tesla Model Y
Tesla offers the Model Y in two variants in India: RWD and RWD Long Range. The former offers a WLTP-claimed range of 500 km on a single charge, while the Long Range trim claims 622 km of range. The Standard version goes from 0-100 kmph in 5.9 seconds, while the top-spec version does it in 5.6 seconds. Speaking of the charging, the EV can get a range of 267 km in just 15 minutes.
When it comes to features, the Model Y comes equipped with the following amenities: –
- 19-inch all-black alloy wheels
- Powered bonnet for hands-free access to the frunk
- 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment
- An 8-inch rear entertainment screen
- Panoramic glass roof
- Connected car tech
- Powered front seats with heating & ventilation functions
- Powered rear seats with recline function
- Multi-colour ambient lighting
- Multi-zone climate control
- Air purifier
- 360-degree camera
- Built-in dashcam
- Full ADAS suite
- Full Self-Driving System (optional for Rs 6 lakh)
In the Indian market, the Tesla Model Y takes on the likes of Kia EV6, BYD Sealion 7, and Volvo C40 Recharge.
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