Tesla Rolls Out Model Y in India

At ₹59.89 lakh, it will cost more in India than in US, China and Germany

- SOHINI DAS

On a rain-soaked busy Tuesday morning in Mumbai's commercial nerve centre Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), a large crowd of media persons had gathered outside American electric vehicle giant Tesla's first Indian "Experience Centre".

A middle-aged woman with her teenage daughter in a pink raincoat was a curious onlooker outside the showroom. "I have been following news on Tesla and thought of dropping by since I was in the neighbourhood," she said, adding that the brand had a strong recall in the Indian market for driverless-car technology. Tesla is not bringing in full-self-driving (FSD) cars to India just yet.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis soon walked out of the 4,000 square foot showroom, which was exhibiting two Tesla Model Y cars—one white another red. "Consider Maharashtra a partner in your journey," Fadnavis said, adding that they (Tesla) wished to see research & development and manufacturing done in India. "I am sure Tesla will think about it at an appropriate stage," said Fadnavis, who remembered riding a Tesla vehicle in the United States (US) in 2015.