Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik became the first owner of Tesla’s Model Y in India on Thursday. He received the vehicle at the newly opened Tesla Experience Centre in Mumbai. The midsize electric SUV is priced at around INR 60 lakhs.
The minister said he felt fortunate to buy the first Tesla car in the country. He added that his purchase was aimed at creating awareness about eco-friendly vehicles. He hoped more people would adopt electric cars in the coming years.
He also said he wanted parents who can afford such cars to use them while dropping their children at school so that young people understand the importance of green transport. Sarnaik dedicated the car to his grandson.
Tesla opened its first India showroom at Bandra Kurla Complex on July 15. Another Experience Centre was launched at Delhi’s Aerocity on August 11. Deliveries of the Model Y will start soon in Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, and Gurugram, according to Tesla India.
Bloomberg reported that Tesla has received around 600 bookings in India so far. The company plans to export between 350 and 500 vehicles this year. The first shipment came from Shanghai in early September.
Tesla has also set up its first Superchargers in the country at Bandra Kurla Complex. Reservations for the Model Y can be made at Tesla showrooms in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram or on the company’s official India website. Deliveries and registrations, however, are limited to Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Gurugram.
Tesla had earlier announced that deliveries would begin in the third quarter of 2025. The company’s India website, however, lists the fourth quarter of the year as the expected timeline.
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