More than a month after Tesla inaugurated its first showroom in India and launched the Model Y, the company has now delivered its first vehicle in the country.
A video shared by ANI shows Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik taking delivery of his white Model Y at the 'Tesla Experience Centre' in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, which opened on July 15.
"I am very happy to have received the first Tesla in India. It is a matter of pride for me. I did not get this car at any discount; I bought it by paying the full amount. I plan to use this Tesla to drop my grandson off at school so that more people see it, learn about electric vehicles, and are encouraged to adopt them," Mr Sarnaik said.
It is yet to be confirmed if the delivered car is the standard variant or the Long Range model. Tesla's Indian prices begin at Rs 59.89 lakh for the RWD and Rs 67.89 lakh for the Long Range RWD, ex-showroom.
"I'm very excited that we bought this Tesla. Like my father said, my son will go to school in it, and he's thrilled. We will also use it for daily purposes, going to the gym, and other family needs. Electric vehicles are gaining momentum in India, which is a very positive sign. They bring sustainability, zero emissions, and a cleaner environment. We are also planning more charging points so that people can operate these vehicles without any hassle," said the minister's son, Purvesh.
Tesla has so far booked 600 units in India, which is said to be lower than the expectations of the company, as per Bloomberg.
The electric vehicle manufacturer aims to export 350 to 500 vehicles in India this year, and the first lot is likely to arrive from Shanghai in early September.
While EVs now make up about 5% of total automobile sales in India during April to July, the segment is expanding very fast with sales rising 93% to 15,500 units over the period.
The Model Y comes in two India-specific models: the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) with a 60kWh battery and the Long Range RWD with a 75kWh battery.
The base RWD has a claimed range of 500km and can reach from 0-100 kmph in 5.9 seconds. The Long Range RWD boosts the range to 622km with a 5.6-second time. Both have a top speed of 201 kmph, feature 19-inch crossflow alloy wheels, and are Supercharge-compatible, adding a total of 267km of range in 15 minutes.
The RWD begins from Rs 59.89 lakh, with the Long Range RWD from Rs 67.89 lakh, ex-showroom. Tesla's Full Self-Driving package can be added for Rs 6 lakh.
There are six colours to select from, with Stealth Grey as the default choice. The five-seat interior is offered in black or white and includes heated seats in both rows as well as front-row ventilation.
Reservations for the Model Y are possible on Tesla's own India website or at Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram showrooms. For now, deliveries and registrations are restricted to those cities, with handovers planned for the third quarter of 2025.
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