Tesla Motors will most probably make its long awaited India debut by the end of this year. This information has been revealed by the company’s founder – Elon Musk, while replying to a tweet asking him about Tesla’s India plans.
Tesla is an America-based electric car manufacturer that has managed to become synonymous to electric cars across the world. The company has a portfolio of EVs ranging from the luxury Model S, to the performance SUV Model X, and the affordable Model 3. The fourth model in it’s lineup – the Tesla Model Y, was unveiled recently and is designed to be a combination of the Model 3 and the Model X. It is essentially a SUV version of the Model 3 sedan.
It is not yet clear which models will Tesla launch in India upon its debut. However, knowing India’s inclination towards value for money products, we expect the Model 3 and Model Y to be the most eligible offerings for our market. Meanwhile, the Modedl X can also be introduced to compete in the rapidly growing premium SUV market.
Also Read: Tesla Roadster: The fastest car ever made
The Tesla launch in India has been under consideration for quite some time now. The company’s plans to enter the Indian market first came into the limelight 5 years ago, when Tesla’s ex-CIO, Jayaprakash Vijayan, came to India with an aim to setup a distribution network in the country and launch affordable EVs. However, India’s high tax rates for EVs and no supportive policy for electric mobility deferred the company’s plans.
Currently, Tesla is said to be in talks with the Government of India regarding added subsidies for electric vehicles, as well as some temporary relief from import duties, till the company sets up its own supplier network and manufacturing facility in the country. It is worth noting that the Indian Government has already announced the FAME II initiative, which has an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles. However, it stresses on domestic manufacturing and assembly. As a result, Tesla might need to build a local network to ensure its India launch is optimised.