Tesla Inc has officially entered the Indian market with the inauguration of its first showroom in Mumbai, nearly a decade after CEO Elon Musk first teased the move in 2016.

The US-based electric vehicle manufacturer opened a 4,000-square-foot “Experience Centre” in Maker Maxity Mall, situated in the upscale Bandra Kurla Complex, a key commercial hub of the city. The launch marks a significant milestone in Tesla’s prolonged and staggered efforts to penetrate one of the world’s largest automotive markets.

The showroom features two variants of the Model Y — the rear-wheel drive (RWD) and the long-range RWD — both imported from Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory. Priced at ₹59,89,000 (approximately $68,000) and ₹67,89,000 (around $79,000) respectively, the vehicles are being offered with an optional Full Self-Driving add-on for ₹600,000 (roughly $7,000).

Customers in Delhi, Mumbai, and Gurugram can begin placing orders from today by submitting a non-refundable deposit of ₹22,220 (about $260). Deliveries for the RWD variant are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2025, while the long-range version will follow in the final quarter.

In preparation for the rollout, Tesla has pledged to install four charging stations each in Delhi and Mumbai, which will include both Supercharger units and destination chargers. The company also plans to open its second outlet in Delhi by the end of this month, expanding its footprint further in India.

The development comes in the wake of New Delhi’s recent policy shift, which lowered import duties on electric vehicles. Tesla had long voiced concerns about India’s 100% import tariffs, which were seen as a major deterrent to market entry.

Despite the showroom launch, Tesla has not committed to establishing a manufacturing base in India. Sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch that CEO Elon Musk remains unconvinced about setting up a factory in the country in the near term. This position was confirmed last month by India’s Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, who stated that Tesla is “not interested in starting manufacturing in India.”

However, the company has been actively recruiting staff in cities such as New Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai. Following the resignation of Prashanth Menon in May, Tesla India is currently overseen by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Vaibhav Taneja, supported by a local board managing policy, sales, and HR operations.

Tesla’s entry into the Indian market comes amid growing competition and declining sales in its key regions. The company reported a 13% drop in global deliveries during Q2 2025, with sales falling in both the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, local rivals such as China’s BYD have begun to erode Tesla’s dominance in key markets.

In India, electric vehicles account for a small fraction of the country’s 6-million-unit annual auto market, which is largely dominated by two-wheelers. Nevertheless, the government aims to increase EV adoption to 30% of total vehicle sales by 2030.

Tesla’s 2016 India ambitions had included the Model 3 and a proposed Supercharger network, and the company had even accepted $1,000 deposits from Indian customers, which were later refunded. Since then, the company’s India plans have seen multiple delays and reconfigurations amid ongoing discussions with Indian policymakers.