MUMBAI— Elon Musk-led electric vehicle giant Tesla is officially making its entry into the Indian market with the launch of its first showroom in Mumbai on Tuesday. The event will also mark the unveiling of its Model Y and Model S vehicles in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
While the company is not yet manufacturing in India, the 4,000-square-foot showroom—described as an “experience centre”—is located in the upscale Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), close to the flagship store of US tech giant Apple.
Industry experts see the move as a key step in Tesla’s broader expansion strategy in India. In June, the company leased a commercial space in Kurla West, Mumbai, which is expected to function as a service facility for its vehicles.
Tesla now holds four commercial properties across India: an engineering hub in Pune, a registered office in Bengaluru, a temporary office near BKC, and the new facility in Kurla West. The Kurla service centre spans 24,500 square feet and is strategically positioned near the new showroom.
According to leasing documents, Tesla India Motor and Energy Private Ltd signed a five-year lease agreement with Bellissimo in City FC Mumbai I Private to rent space in Lodha Logistics Park. The initial monthly rent is set at ₹37.53 lakh, amounting to approximately ₹25 crore over the lease period, including a ₹2.25 crore security deposit.
Tesla’s entry into the Indian market will initially be limited to vehicle sales. “They are not interested in manufacturing in India,” Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated last month. “Tesla is planning to open showrooms in India purely for sales.”
Meanwhile, the central government has issued guidelines for a new electric vehicle policy designed to encourage fresh investment from global EV manufacturers, signaling support for international players like Tesla entering the domestic market. (Source: IANS)
