Tesla Will Arrive in India In 2021, Announces Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari

Tesla has been trying to enter the Indian market since 2016. So far, it has been unsuccessful due to lack of infrastructure, policies and the market for electric mobility. However, PM Modi has shown interest in Tesla in the past. Moreover, Nitin Gadkari previously offered Tesla land near the port to import their technology.

This time though, Tesla will make a sure entry in early 2021. Markets expect the EV giant to make the debut in India with the Model 3. Moreover, it will come to India as Completely Built-Up (CBU) unit. The automobile will be priced somewhere around ₹ 55 lakh and not some through retail but dealerships. However, there is no official confirmation from the company regarding the same.  The entry-level is available in the following variants – Standard Range (RWD), Standard Range Plus (RWD), Long Range (AWD) and Long Range Performance (AWD). Its battery size ranges from 50 kWh to 75 kWh and driving range from 381 km to 580 km.

Background

In conversation with Indian Express, Union Transport Minister underlined the push for electric cars in the country. He also said a lot of Indian companies were working on electrical vehicles. They might be more affordable, but technically as advanced as Tesla. He said Tesla will start operations first with sales and then maybe look at assembly and manufacturing based on the response to the cars. “India is going to become a number 1 manufacturing hub for auto in five years,” Gadkari added.

In October, Elon Musk had suggested that the company will come to India in 2021. “Next year for sure,” Musk replied when a handle called Tesla Club India checked with him about the company’s progress in India.

Tesla is yet to establish a production facility in India although the automaker is likely to set-up at least an assembly facility that puts together completely knocked down (CKD) kits into finished cars in the next year or so. Meanwhile, Tesla has set up a massive production facility that it calls Gigafactory in China. While electric vehicles are quickly getting popular in India as well, they’re yet to pose a real threat to vehicles running on petrol, diesel or even CNG/LPG for that matter.