Tesla to open first India showroom in Mumbai on July 15

Elon Musk-led Tesla is set to open its first showroom in India on July 15 in Mumbai, marking a major step toward launching operations in the world’s third-largest auto market. The Mumbai outlet will serve as Tesla’s entry point into India, where interest in electric vehicles (EVs) is steadily gaining momentum.According to information, Tesla had finalized a lease for its maiden Indian showroom earlier in March. The launch in Mumbai will be followed by another showroom expected in the Delhi-NCR region, signaling the company’s initial retail push in the country.
Tesla's entry comes at a time when the EV maker is facing a slowdown in sales across Europe and China. As part of its India strategy, Tesla has shipped five Model Y rear-wheel drive SUVs from its Shanghai facility to Mumbai. These popular EVs—currently among the world’s best-selling electric vehicles—were imported at a declared value of ₹2.77 million each, attracting over ₹2.1 million in duties due to India’s high import tariffs.Despite the retail expansion, Tesla has shown little interest in setting up manufacturing in India. Heavy Industries Minister Kumara Swamy recently confirmed that the company has no current plans for local production units. While Tesla did attend the first stakeholder consultation on India's EV manufacturing incentive scheme, it skipped subsequent sessions—highlighting its limited engagement in India’s domestic EV ecosystem.