Tesla will enter India in 2021 with the launch of its Model 3 before the end of the first half of the year.
No brand, especially one that has yet to set foot in the country, has arguably had such great response from wannabe buyers of late. But, the wait is about to soon get over.
With the Model 3 and Model Y, affordable models of Tesla, accounting for 89 percent of total sales in the third quarter of 2020 for the electric vehicle giant, it is natural that it will want to first launch the sedan in India.
The fact that the car emerged as the world’s best-selling battery electric vehicle will also likely help it sell reasonably well here.
Bookings for the Model 3 sedan will resume in January, with the firm having opened its order books for the car way back in 2016, with deliveries planned by the end of the first quarter of financial year 2021-22.
Back when the initial round of bookings was accepted, some notable names including Paytm founder Vijay Sekhar Sharma, pre-booked the car for about $1000 (Rs. approx 73,500/- in today’s exchange rates).
Due to import duties (as it will be a CBU), the most affordable model in Tesla’s range will likely cost from around Rs. 55 lakhs (ex-showroom) when it gets launched in our country.
However, with a 0-100 km/hr time of around 3 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/hr, it will give quite a few sports cars a run for their money, in the straight line at least, while the claimed range is 500 km per charge.
However, charging the car is a whole another case. Claims of being able to completely charge the car in a jiffy works only when fast charging is available and accessible to owners/users.
Tesla might have to look at installing its supercharger network in India, or join hands with a service provider, if it wants to sell more cars, as seems the more logical way since it has time on its hands.
The way Tesla will sell its cars will also be a bit different, for there will be no dealers, like in other markets, and instead sales will be direct and mostly through the digital way.
It has been almost four years since the company first thought of entering India, but has refrained from doing so citing infrastructure issues. With its focus now being to push sales of Model 3, India seems to be the right hunting ground.
Furthermore, Tesla, reportedly, has been exploring options to set up a research facility and a plant in India and has even held talks with a couple of State governments about it.
Tesla Model 3 Launch
- Tesla Model 3 launch to take place by June next year
- The EV maker will finally enter India
- Is also looking to set up a research centre here
Source – ETAuto.com