[embee]

Elon Musk has put a timeline for the entry of the company's electric car on Indian roads. In a recent interaction with IIT Madras students, the Tesla CEO said that the car may run on Indian roads in 2020. The Avishkar Hyperloop team from IIM Madras participated in the finals of 'SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition 2019' that was organised by the American company when Musk gave that statement.

The team asked Musk when was he planning to bring his electric car to India. IIT Madras said in a statement that the CEO responded to the query by saying that is it probably going to happen in a year's time.

The Tesla CEO has been trying to enter the Indian market for a couple of years but has been unsuccessful so far. He had also tweeted in March this year that he plans to be in India in 2019 or next year.

Musk had also earlier stated that the government policies and the FDI norms are behind the delay in the electric car's entry into the Indian market.

Tesla was expected to enter the Indian market with the Model 3 that is priced at nearly $35,000.


https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors...ry/368229.html

https://www.weeklyvoice.com/is-tesla...e-the-details/

[sgiitk]

He is trying to negotiate a favorable deal with the GoI. Also, his model of selling with service will have to change. All Tesla's are serviced by Tesla only. Now he may be forced to go third party.

[embee]

In March 2019, Elon Musk confirmed the all-electric car manufacturer’s India entry on Twitter, replying to a Twitter user’s query on Tesla's operation in India. Elon Musk said - "Would love to be there this year. If not, definitely next!"

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/...r-2071483.html

[sandhyab]

What will be a realistic cost of Tesla3 in either CBU or CKD form in India??? I am guessing somewhere around 40lakhs???

[slango97]

Tesla has the capability to build a good public charging infrastructure across the country. Maybe their supercharger network could be made non-proprietary with support from local companies and/or the government so that it can benefit everyone and not just Tesla buyers.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

He is trying to negotiate a favorable deal with the GoI. Also, his model of selling with service will have to change. All Tesla's are serviced by Tesla only. Now he may be forced to go third party.

Isn't that the same strategy followed by Ather in India for their electric scooters?

[landcruiser123]

$ 35,000 is INR 24 lakh in today's exchange rate. If Musk can price Model 3 at under <35 lakhs ex-showroom, preferably INR 30-32 lakh ex-showroom, we have a winner on our hands. He made electric cars 'cool' in America.

GOI should implement of tax credit system like in America. Don't punish lesser- reward people for using a more sustainable mode of transport. Also, I'm not sure about the manufacturing prowess to make certain components like Motors for EVs. I'd like GOI to set a deadline (say 2025) for companies to start manufacturing components in India.

[GTO]

As of now, it appears that Tesla will come as a CBU (at least initially). Which means it'll be an overpriced EV that a few Tesla fans buy.

Tesla is too busy with USA & China (8X bigger markets) to bother with 100% commitment to India. Musk has shown he is open to partnerships - heck, his factory is an ex Toyota-GM facility & Mercedes was one of the first big investors. IMHO, they should tie up with a local partner. What about Mahindra? Some EV expertise, open to partnerships (Ford, Renault, LG Chem etc.) and a well-respected leader in Anand Mahindra. I don't think Tata would be interested as they'll get the tech in-house and from Jaguar-Land Rover.

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Also, his model of selling with service will have to change. All Tesla's are serviced by Tesla only. Now he may be forced to go third party.

Not really. India has no such dealer-focused laws like the USA. Tesla can open how many ever company-owned showrooms it wants in India.

Originally Posted by sandhyab

What will be a realistic cost of Tesla3 in either CBU or CKD form in India???

Would say 2.5 times what the USA price is. So 70 lakh rupees (considering a $40,000 Model 3). A decently equipped Model 3 will be the same price as a Mustang in India.

Originally Posted by slango97

Tesla has the capability to build a good public charging infrastructure across the country.

As a company, Tesla doesn't have the bandwidth to focus on USA, China...AND India. It has to prioritise the more important markets. If India was high on the list, Tesla would already be here.

[MukundanMK]

Originally Posted by GTO

As of now, it appears that Tesla will come as a CBU (at least initially). Which means it'll be an overpriced EV that a few Tesla fans buy.

Would say 2.5 times what the USA price is. So 70 lakh rupees (considering a $40,000 Model 3). A decently equipped Model 3 will be the same price as a Mustang in India.

Absolutely agree on this. Tesla will definitely not bring in a customized lesser priced electric car for India. Their current offerings in USA are a bit premium (I have driven my sister's Tesla Model 3). We cannot expect the rates to be equivalent to the exact USD to INR conversion. It would definitely be at least 2 or 2.5 times like what @GTO had mentioned. If Tesla goes CBU/Import model of sale, then the pricing would be very premium. EVs in India would be a hit, only if the pricing is competitive (especially after considering the subsidies announced by India Govt as part of Go Green initiative).

Tesla needs to have an in house plant setup @ India. I doubt if this would happen and if it doenst, Tesla can never taste success in India.

[sri_tesla]

Originally Posted by GTO

Musk has shown he is open to partnerships - heck, his factory is an ex Toyota-GM facility & Mercedes was one of the first big investors. IMHO, they should tie up with a local partner. What about Mahindra? Some EV expertise, open to partnerships (Ford, Renault, LG Chem etc.) and a well-respected leader in Anand Mahindra.

I think it’s exactly opposite. Tesla is taking as many components as possible, in-house. They are even making seats in-house, which is very rare in the current automobile industry. He bought the defunct factory to save money and time at that time. Tesla may partner for battery manufacturing as it requires huge investments. For car manufacturing they are always going solo. In fact they waited for China to allow 100% ownership of factories before starting Chinese giga factory.

Tesla should only bring cars at least by CKD route even if its late by 2-3 years. Otherwise, they will not be able to sell even 100 per year. Since they own all their showrooms, service centers, charging network, it does not make economic sense with limited volumes. If they can setup small assembling unit and bring Model 3 via CKD route (similar to Hyundai Kona), with 15% import tax and 5% GST, the base Model 3 can be priced at Rs 35 lakhs, they can easily outsell the likes of BMW 3 series, Mercedes C class, Audi A3/A4.

[SaiSW]

The entire country is showing a preference to SUVs over sedans. I wonder if they can target the 20-25 lac segment with a UV.

Tesla is pretty well known amongst the mid-higher spectrum of customers and they will be more than pleased to find something like what I mentioned, in their budget. Petrol will never be the dominant choice of big UVs in India, so the only way forward, apart from diesel, is electric.

[ksgehlot]

Tesla Should start with Model 3 and Model Y. With the budget concious consumers these would be the best options. Now the pricing for it would be different , can't compare it with the American pricing as it is being locally manufactured. If the cars comes from China the taxation would completely be different.

It seems to me that Elon Musk is not too serious with India operations. He is taking things a bit easy. He is already too busy with Space X and The Boring company.

[bigron]

I dont think Tesla has the infrastructure yet to take on a new market like India. The amount of investment, time and effort they would need to penetrate our market would not be justified with the volumes they will get.
This is going to be a very expensive car to purchase and as a result only a handful of people with deep pockets are going to indulge.
Not to mention Tesla already has their hands full with US and China. And Musk himself with the Space X programme etc.

[RaviK]

Originally Posted by GTO

..Would say 2.5 times what the USA price is. So 70 lakh rupees (considering a $40,000 Model 3). A decently equipped Model 3 will be the same price as a Mustang in India...

Is there a market at that price range (apart from double digit sales maybe)? Even in UK & Germany (spent a few years there), you have to keep looking with your eyes wide open to spot a Tesla, so what are the odds of it succeeding it in India (at the price point mentioned above)?

On a side note, we're discussing the business case for Kona in the other thread, with a ~25 L price tag and how it can be brought down to encourage mass adoption Doesn't look like Tesla will be able to price its cars anywhere near that !

[good.car-ma]

Elon Musk has very low credibility. He promises large, delivers medium and advertises his achievements as gigantic. Also murmurs coming through that Model 3 numbers are fudged, intending to stave off speculation that Tesla is bankrupt.

Tesla will most likely come to India only after existing automakers begin their EV operations (if at all)