Tesla arrives, but Kia may drive home the sales

While Tesla's long-anticipated entry into the Indian market on Tuesday is set to grab the headlines, it is Kia that will corner a larger share of consumer interest, and sales, in the weeks ahead.

- SWARAJ BAGGONKAR

WHILE TESLA'S LONG-ANTICIPATED entry into the Indian market on Tuesday is set to grab the headlines, it is Kia that will corner a larger share of consumer interest, and sales, in the weeks ahead.

The South Korean automaker is gearing up to launch the Carens Clavis EV, a seven-seater electric vehicle priced under ₹20 lakh, which is expected to be a major draw in a market that is rapidly warming up to electric mobility in the sub-₹20 lakh segment.

Kia's new offering will be its third electric model in the country and the first in a more accessible price band.

Designed specifically for Indian consumers, the Clavis EV underscores Kia's renewed focus on mass-market electric vehicles. With this model, the company is targeting sales of 36,000 EVs in 2027, aiming for a 10% contribution to its total domestic volumes.