Tesla in India by 2026? New Clues Say Yes

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

✅ 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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