Your dream of owning a Tesla electric car might soon turn into reality as the company is set to begin its India journey as it recently registered a subsidiary under 'Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Ltd' in Bengaluru.
Tesla is setting up its research and development (R&D) centre in Karnataka to commence its India operations, as the state government had earlier made a strong pitch to invite Tesla.
At the same time, it has also been reported that Tesla is in touch with other state governments in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh to start its India operations.
Gujarat making a strong pitch
Auto websites reported, citing sources in the Gujarat government, that the state is making a strong pitch to invite Tesla for manufacturing of electric vehicle.
Notably, Gujarat has grown to become one of the most preferred destinations chosen by automobile manufacturers for industrial activity, due to the state's stategic advantages of ports and proximity to all of India's major markets.
In recent years, the state has also seen substantial industrial activity, most by automobile manufacturers, which makes Gujarat one of the most premium auto hubs in India, according to the cited officials.
In view of this, the Vijay Rupani-led government is attempting to convince Tesla to set up base in the state, vowing to provide all possible assistance and logistics support for commencing operations at the soonest.
Tesla to get tax benefits
It is to be noted that Tesla had projected that its highest-selling Model 3 would be available first, even before the premium Model S and Model X, which would be available later in the year and in early 2022.
Arriving in India via Tesla Motors Amsterdam that will give the electric car-maker tax benefits related to dividend payments and capital gains, the Model 3 may start from around Rs 60 lakh.
The base Standard Range Plus model now claims a driving range of 423 km per charge, while the Long-Range Model 3 can give you 568 km range on one single charge.
CarDekho.com has even listed the price of three Tesla models with their expected arrival: Tesla Model 3 from Rs 60 lakh in as early as March, Tesla Model S from Rs 1.5 crore in July and Model X from Rs 2 crore in early 2022.
The India arrival dates and prices, however, have not been revealed by Tesla, which now has a registered office in Bengaluru.
'Supercharge' the country's mobility future
According to Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR, Tesla's bold bet on India will supercharge and transform the country's mobility future.
"Over the short-term, Tesla's entry will give a boost to the government's policy initiatives, strengthen EV manufacturing in India, spur new mobility startups, and most importantly, fasten the development of enabling EV infrastructure," Ram told news agecy IANS.
The move will also open India to select as one of the countries where Tesla cars can be purchased.
Model 3, Tesla's most-loved car
People are eying its most loved car -- Model 3 -- which is built from the ground up as an electric vehicle with ultra-high strength steel and a low, solid centre of gravity.
Model 3 achieved a US NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) 5-star safety rating in every category and subcategory with its energy absorbent crash structure, rigid passenger compartment, incredible side impact protection and one of the lowest rollover risks of any sedan on the road.
Model 3 comes with the option of dual motor all-wheel drive, 20-inch Uberturbine wheels and performance brakes and lowered suspension for total control in all weather conditions.
A carbon fibre spoiler improves stability at high speeds, allowing the Model 3 to accelerate from 0-96 km in as little as 3.1 seconds. A 15-minute recharge at a Supercharger location can get it ready to go for up to 280 km.
The inside of Model 3 is unlike any other car. You can use your smartphone as a key, and access all driver controls in the central 15-inch touchscreen. The all-glass roof extends from front to back, creating a sense of openness from every seat.
In the US, the warranty on the base Model 3 variant is four years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first) and on the battery and drive unit, the warranty is 8 years or 120,000 miles (whichever comes first).
India's electric vehicle market
The electric vehicle (EV) market in India is expected to reach over 63 lakh unit-mark per annum by 2027, according to a recent report by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA). The demand for the batteries is also going to rise substantially over the same period.
The EV sales in India stood at 3.8 lakh units in 2019-20, and the EV battery market reached 5.4GWh during the year. Tesla's entry will only boost the EV sector.
"Over the long-term, India stands to leapfrog the current conventional mobility and build a strong foundation for e-mobility. With India's advanced capabilities in manufacturing and information technology, the country is potentially poised for success and lead the world in the post-Covid future," Ram noted.
(With inputs from agencies)
