Key highlights
- Tesla India receives around 600 bookings
- Only Model Y is on sale
- Deliveries of the first batch will start in September
US-based electric car manufacturer Tesla began its operations in India recently with just one model on sale. The brand has received a lukewarm response from the Indian customers. Read below how.
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Tesla India receives only 600 bookings: Success or failure?
As per a latest online report, Tesla has received nearly 600 bookings of its only car available for sale in India. The Model Y, which was launched a few weeks ago, has been the sole chariot for the company in the domestic EV market.
While the expectations were too high for the brand, while making its Indian debut, the response that it has achieved is a bit concerning. The Model Y, which is positioned at Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom) for the RWD and Rs 67.89 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Long-Range variants, has received a lukewarm response.
The deliveries of the first batch of customers are scheduled to take place this month. All of the cars will be CBU and are being imported from the China-based manufacturing facility. The first batch is expected to have around 500 cars.
Tesla is currently operating with only two showrooms in India. However, the reason behind the mild response seems to be the growing trust in Chinese EV makers like BYD. In fact, Tesla is witnessing harsh competition from Chinese EVs in the global markets as well.
Moreover, a CBU EV is not what people would like to spend nearly a quarter of a crore on in India. In fact, the presence of premium EVs like Mercedes-Benz EQE, BMW i5, and Audi e-Tron attracts buyers with their brand value and road presence.
As of now, Tesla is in its initial stage of operations in India. We suspect that the brand has better plans in the bag for the Indian customers.
Our say
The Tesla Model Y is a proven electric car globally. It is loaded with the most advanced self-driving autonomous technology, which sets it apart from its rivals. However, Indian consumers seem to be adapting slowly to the popular EV brand due to various reasons.
