The future pulled up outside a Mumbai showroom. We stopped. We stared. We asked—“Is this for me?”
Tesla’s ₹60 lakh India launch stirred pride, price shock, and possibilities. Explore 7 real emotions sparked by Tesla’s Model Y, its Mumbai showroom, and what’s next.
1. Welcome to the Tesla Mumbai Showroom — India’s First Taste of the Future
Walking past the new Tesla Experience Centre in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, you almost forget you’re in India. It doesn’t feel like a car showroom — it feels like a luxury tech temple.
Clean white walls. Sharp lighting. No salespeople in sight — just screen displays, silent cars, and glass reflecting ambition.
It’s more than a showroom. It’s a signal:
Tesla is finally in India. For real.
On July 15, 2025, five Model Y SUVs quietly rolled into Mumbai. There were no celebrity unveilings, no loud commercials. Just bookings opening quietly — ₹22,000 upfront. A moment years in the making.
And while we stood outside taking pictures… inside, the future sat quietly waiting to be driven.
2. The Price? Stunning Car, Shocking Tag.
Let’s get straight to it.
Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: ₹59.90 lakh (ex-showroom)
Model Y Long Range AWD: ₹67.90 lakh
On-road in Mumbai: ₹69.15 lakh
In Delhi: ₹63.25–₹71.5 lakh
In the U.S.? ~₹38 lakh (equivalent)
The difference? India’s 100% import duty on foreign EVs, plus additional taxes. The same car is nearly double the price in India.
That number hit harder than expected. People weren’t angry — they were heartbroken.
The dream car had arrived. But not for them.
One Redditor summed it up:
“I’ve been saving for 2 years. I can book it for ₹22K, but I’ll never own it.”
It’s not just about affordability — it’s about belonging. Tesla was supposed to be the future. And when it arrived, we didn’t feel invited.
3. Devendra Fadnavis Was There — And He Made It Personal
At the Mumbai launch, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis made a surprising admission.
He said he drove a Tesla 10 years ago in the U.S. — and had been waiting ever since to see one roll on Indian roads.
He wasn’t just endorsing a brand. He was sharing a feeling so many of us have lived with.
He also extended a serious invitation:
“Tesla should consider setting up a Gigafactory in Maharashtra.”
It wasn’t just a photo-op. It was a vision: Tesla, made in India, priced for Indians, backed by Indian infrastructure. That’s the real goal.
And hearing that from a political leader? It gave this story roots.
4. It’s a Masterpiece. But is it made for India’s Roads?
No doubt — the Tesla Model Y is an engineering marvel.
0–100 km/h in 5 seconds
Up to 622 km range
Autopilot-ready tech
A 15-inch screen is larger than most laptops.
Cabin air filters that could fight Delhi pollution
But here’s the thing: India’s roads play by their own rules.
No lane discipline. Erratic drivers. Potholes as deep as metaphors.
Tesla’s sensors are smart — but are they Indian street smart?
A car that can park itself is cool. But when a delivery bike swerves in front of you mid-turn, it’s your reflexes, not radar, that matter.
5. Tesla vs India’s Top EV Brands — It’s Not a One-Horse Race
Tesla’s entry is big. But India’s EV scene isn’t empty.
Tata Motors owns the budget EV space with the Nexon and Punch EVs
Mahindra is building aggressively, with Anand Mahindra tweeting “See you at the charging station” — a classy, confident flex
BYD and Vietnam’s VinFast also launched in India this month
Ola Electric continues to dominate two-wheelers
Tesla doesn’t own the electric conversation — it joins it.
And that’s exciting, because it forces everyone to level up.
If Tesla sets a premium benchmark, Indian brands can respond by owning the mass market. A little competition, a lot of innovation — everybody wins.
6. What’s Next After the Model Y?
Let’s be honest: The Model Y isn’t meant to go viral in sales numbers. It’s Tesla’s soft opening.
But the real game-changer could be what’s next — the Tesla Model 3.
Smaller sedan
Lower starting price (estimated ₹40–₹50 lakh)
More city-friendly
Already spotted testing in India.
And suppose Elon Musk’s team and the Indian government reach an agreement on lower import taxes for EVs (especially with a promise of local manufacturing). In that case, we could be looking at the first truly competitive Tesla for Indian buyers.
Plus, there’s talk of a Gigafactory, Superchargers in Delhi and Bengaluru, and localized supply chains.
In other words, the Model Y is the teaser. The next chapter could be the real story.
7. So… How Do We Feel Right Now?
Hopeful.
Frustrated.
Inspired.
Left out.
All at once.
Because Tesla’s India launch isn’t just a product event. It’s an emotion — years of watching, waiting, imagining.
And now that it’s here, it feels like we’ve been invited to a party… but only as guests who can’t afford the drinks.
Still, we’re here.
Still watching.
Still dreaming.
Because this moment matters — not just for EV fans or tech lovers, but for a country trying to write its version of the future.
Final Word: A Beginning, Not the Destination
This isn’t the perfect Tesla launch we hoped for. It’s expensive. It’s exclusive. It’s incomplete.
But it’s also a start.
The showroom is open. The cars are here. The conversations have begun.
Now, it’s up to Tesla — and India — to shape what happens next. To bring prices down. Build infrastructure. Localise manufacturing. Expand access.
Until then, the Model Y will roll through Mumbai’s cleaner lanes, turn heads in Delhi, and pop up on Instagram feeds nationwide.
And maybe that’s enough for now.
Because once the future arrives, it doesn’t leave.
To get more updates, visit: The Morning Draft.