A New Era Begins for Tesla in India
Tesla has officially entered India’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure space with the launch of its first Supercharger station, located at One BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex) in Mumbai. This marks a significant step in Tesla’s strategy to establish charging networks before initiating vehicle deliveries in the country.
Supercharging Capability and Speed
The Mumbai Supercharger hub features four V4 Supercharging stalls (DC fast chargers) capable of delivering up to 250 kW of peak power, alongside four AC Destination Chargers rated at 11 kW. With these high-performance chargers, Tesla claims that a Model Y can gain 267 km of range in just 15 minutes—enough for multiple short-distance commutes within the city.
Transparent and Competitive Pricing
Charging costs are set at ₹24 per kWh for DC fast charging and between ₹11 to ₹14 per kWh for AC charging, depending on the charger. All payments, session monitoring, and stall availability can be managed through the Tesla mobile app.
Mumbai Experience Centre Debuts Model Y
In conjunction with the Supercharger launch, Tesla also opened its first Indian Experience Centre in BKC, Mumbai. The event featured the unveiling of the Model Y, officiated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who referred to Mumbai as the ideal launchpad for Tesla’s Indian operations.
More Superchargers Coming Soon
Tesla has announced its intention to open up to eight more Supercharger stations across Mumbai and the Delhi-NCR region. Locations such as Lower Parel, Thane, and Navi Mumbai are expected to go live in the upcoming September quarter.
High Import Duties Pose Pricing Challenge
Despite the excitement, Tesla faces challenges due to India’s import duties exceeding 100% on EVs. This has pushed Model Y pricing to a premium bracket, with the RWD variant priced at ₹59.89 lakh and the Long-Range RWD at ₹67.89 lakh. Deliveries are expected to begin in Q3 and Q4 of 2025.
Tesla’s Impact on India’s EV Market
Industry leaders, including Anand Mahindra, have welcomed Tesla’s entry as a transformative move for the Indian EV ecosystem. The Maharashtra government is reportedly in discussions with Tesla for potential local R&D and manufacturing partnerships, aiming to reduce import dependency and make EVs more accessible.
