Tesla officially enters the world's most populous market

On July 15, the American car company Tesla opened its first showroom in Mumbai, India, with the focus on the Model Y, priced at about $70,000 - the highest price in major markets.

The move marks the company's formal entry into India - a long-awaited market where billionaire Elon Musk had planned to build a manufacturing plant.

The Model Y, the company’s best-selling vehicle, comes in two versions: the base rear-wheel drive version, which costs more than 5.9 million rupees ($68,750) and the long-range rear-wheel drive version, which costs more than 6.7 million rupees ($78,100). That’s much higher than the starting price of $44,990 in the US, $36,700 in China and $53,700 in Germany.

The Safe Driving (FSD) feature is offered as an option at an additional cost of Rs 600,000, with a promise of future updates to assist in vehicle operation, with minimal intervention from the driver.

In the first phase, Tesla will export cars to India - where import duties and related fees can exceed 100%, causing the selling price to consumers to increase sharply. This decision was made by Tesla in the context of excess capacity at global factories and declining sales.

The cars on display in Mumbai were made in China because Tesla's US factories currently do not produce right-hand drive cars - the type suitable for the Indian market.

Deliveries are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025. Tesla is currently targeting the premium electric vehicle segment in India, where this segment accounts for only about 4% of total car sales in the world's third largest market.

Tesla is determined to compete with German luxury carmakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, rather than mainstream electric car makers in India like Tata Motors and Mahindra.

Speaking at the opening of Tesla's showroom in Mumbai, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra emphasized that in the future, India wishes to see Tesla's research, development and production activities in the country./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tesla-chinh-thuc-gia-nhap-thi-truong-dong-dan-nhat-the-gioi-254983.htm