Tesla’s India Strategy: Aerocity Showroom Signals Rapid Expansion

Tesla is accelerating its expansion in India’s electric vehicle market with plans to open its second retail center. The new Tesla Experience Centre is scheduled to open on August 11th at the WorldMark 3 campus in Aerocity, Delhi, providing service to customers within the National Capital Region, a critical area for India’s electric vehicle push. This follows the opening of the first showroom at Mumbai’s Maker Maxity Mall on July 15th, an event attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He welcomed Tesla and invited the company to set up research, development, and manufacturing units within the state. The Aerocity center is nearing completion, with the monthly rent estimated at around Rs 25 lakh. Social media images of the center showcase the brand’s premium aesthetic. Tesla currently offers only the Model Y in India, with prices starting at Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom). The Model Y is offered in two variants: a standard rear-wheel drive with a 60 kWh battery and a WLTP-certified range of 500 km, and a long-range rear-wheel drive with a 75 kWh battery providing a range of up to 622 km. Deliveries will initially focus on major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Gurugram, with vehicles being delivered directly to homes using flat-bed trucks. Tesla has also expanded its reach by updating its website to enable vehicle registration across all states and union territories. While the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature is available as an optional extra for Rs 6 lakh, its rollout in India is planned for a later time. The Model Y launch also marks the debut of Tesla’s India website, indicating the company’s commitment to expansion within India, despite facing challenges in EV policy and infrastructure.