With recent approvals, staff hires, and test vehicles roaming roads from Mumbai to Pune, Tesla is finally making its move into the Indian EV market. While premium import duties remain a barrier for now, fresh hints suggest Tesla may ramp up soon and even begin local assembly by early 2026.
🚘 Tesla Showrooms Coming Soon
- First Mumbai showroom in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is set to open July 15, 2025 after RTO clearance The Times of India+10Asianet Newsable+10IndiaEVNews+10Daily Times+5Reuters+5The Times of India+5.
- New Delhi showroom in Aerocity will follow in late July The Times of India+6Daily Times+6ETAuto.com+6.
- Tesla has already imported several Model Y units and Superchargers in preparation Reuters.
🚗 Model Y Spotted Testing
💡 A facelifted 2025 Model Y (codename Juniper) was recently spotted on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, signaling real-world testing under Indian road conditions Reuters+6Moneycontrol+6The Times of India+6.
- These tests suggest Model Y will likely be the first Tesla sold in India.
🏭 Local Assembly Nearing Reality
- Tesla is reportedly scouting a CKD assembly plant in Satara, Maharashtra, aiming to begin production in Q1 2026 and launch assembled vehicles by April 2026 Daily Times+5The Financial Express+5The Times of India+5Asianet Newsable+2Shop4Tesla+2IndiaEVNews+2.
- This move would help them circumvent India’s steep ~70% import duties by assembling cars locally.
👥 Hiring & Infrastructure Buildout
- Tesla has begun hiring across technical, sales, and service roles to staff its new showrooms Reddit+6The Times+6The Times of India+6.
- Autopilot prototype drivers are already operating in Mumbai and Delhi to adapt Tesla’s ADAS to Indian traffic conditions The Times of India+8Shop4Tesla+8The Times of India+8.
🛠️ Import Duties & Government Incentives
- India’s EV incentive policy could reduce tariffs to 15%, but only for manufacturers investing at least $500 million in local production Shop4Tesla+2Reuters+2The Times+2.
- Tesla’s Satara CKD plan may meet this threshold and open the door to price realignment.
🗣️ What the Experts Say
“The Tesla Model 3, anticipated to be Tesla’s most affordable offering in India, is expected to be priced between ₹35 to 40 lakh.” IndiaEVNewsReddit+1Daily Times+1
“Tesla has selected locations for its showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai… leases secured in Aerocity and BKC.” The Times+9Reddit+9mint+9
🔍 Timeline at a Glance
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Mumbai showroom opens | July 15, 2025 |
| New Delhi showroom opens | Late July 2025 |
| Model Y deliveries begin (imports) | Late August 2025 |
| CKD plant construction starts | Q3 2025 |
| Local assembly (CKD) begins | Q1 2026 |
| First India-assembled Tesla arrives | April 2026 |
✅ Final Take
All signs point to Tesla’s official India debut starting mid‑2025 with showrooms and imported Model Ys. The game-changer awaits: a CKD assembly plant in Satara, which could lead to locally assembled Teslas by early 2026—dramatically cutting tariffs and boosting affordability.
If Tesla proceeds, it won’t just mark sales—it’ll signal a full-fledged EV era in India. Stay tuned for major developments in the months ahead.
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