Tesla's India Store Launch Fails to Impress Early Supporters Amid Pricing Concerns.

Tesla has opened its first store in India, but the event has been met with mixed reactions from early supporters. Long-time fan Vishal Gondal expressed disappointment, having waited almost a decade for Tesla's arrival in India. Some early supporters have grown frustrated with Tesla's delays and lack of communication. The high cost of Tesla's Model Y, priced at approximately $68,000 in India, has limited its appeal to a small market segment.

Tesla Inc. has officially opened its first showroom in India, marking the electric vehicle maker's long-awaited entry into the world's third-largest automotive market. The showroom, located in the upscale Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai, will serve as Tesla's flagship retail and experience outlet, introducing its EV lineup to Indian customers [1].

Tesla's entry comes after years of delays and policy friction, with the company facing challenges in its core markets of China and the U.S. The company's sales in these markets have been declining, with a sharp drop in sales from April to June due to boycotts over Elon Musk's political views [1]. For India, Tesla's debut signals rising investor confidence and strengthens its move towards clean mobility, although the company's higher pricing is likely to make its cars unaffordable for most Indians [1].

The base price for the Tesla Model Y in India is approximately $68,000, which is significantly higher than the $44,990 price tag in the U.S. without a federal tax credit. This pricing is expected to limit the appeal of Tesla's cars to a small market segment in India, where the luxury car market makes up just about 1% of total vehicle sales [1].

Early supporters of Tesla in India have expressed mixed reactions to the company's debut. Vishal Gondal, a long-time Tesla and Elon Musk loyalist who pre-booked a Model 3 in 2016, felt underwhelmed by the showroom launch. He criticized the company for the delay and lack of communication, stating that he would not buy a Tesla now [2]. Other early backers, such as Varun Krishnan and Amit Bhavani, echoed Gondal's sentiments, expressing frustration with the delay and lack of preferential treatment [2].

One of the concerns raised by early backers is the lack of clarity on how Tesla will set up its Supercharger network and handle after-sales care in India. The company has announced plans to establish eight charging stations in Delhi and Mumbai before starting deliveries in Q3, but it is unclear whether these will be sufficient to provide enough backing to Tesla drivers in these two cities [2].

Tesla's entry into India is expected to bring world-class technology to the country and support the government's goal of increasing the electric vehicle share to 30% by 2030. However, the company's high pricing and lack of communication with early supporters pose significant challenges to its success in the Indian market.

References:
[1] https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/07/tesla-debuts-in-india-but-its-cars-likely-cost-too-much-for-most-indians/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-loses-charm-india-loyalists-140000703.html