Tesla Inc. has delivered its first electric car in India, launching the Model Y in two variants as the company begins operations in the country after years of postponements. The move comes as Tesla expands into a market with high import tariffs that have made vehicles significantly more expensive than in neighboring regions.
The rear-wheel drive Model Y is priced at 5.989 million rupees ($69,000), while the long-range rear-wheel drive version is listed at 6.789 million rupees ($79,000). All vehicles in the initial delivery batch were manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. Tesla’s Global Vice President, Grace Tao, announced the deliveries on September 27, 2025.
“Congratulations to our new owners! We look forward to Tesla’s products and services bringing a smooth and comfortable travel experience to more consumers around the world,” Tao said.
Tesla first indicated plans to enter India in April 2016. The company’s first vehicle on Indian roads was privately imported in 2017, nearly eight years before the installation of the country’s first Tesla Supercharger station. Early communications suggested a launch by 2021, but the plan was repeatedly delayed.
The launch represents a key step for Tesla, which has faced slowing sales in North America and Europe, while its business in China has remained relatively stable, declining only four percent in the most recent market assessment. Additional models and showrooms are expected in India in the near future as Tesla expands its presence.