Tesla is also gradually rolling out its supercharger network in India starting with Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram (File) | Photo credit: REUTERS
Tesla’s low operating costs, including maintenance and fuel, can help Indian buyers recoup about one-third of the Model Y’s $67,000 price tag over four to five years, the company’s India chief said on Wednesday.
Tesla entered India in July with its imported Model Y, priced at a significant premium to other major markets due to India’s 100% import duty.
Tesla is targeting the niche electric vehicle market in India, which accounts for about 5% of total sales in the world’s third-largest auto market. Analysts estimate that most cars sold in India are priced below $22,000.
Since deliveries began in September, Tesla has sold just over 100 Model Ys in India, based on Indian government registration data.
Tesla India CEO Sharad Agarwal said that if Indian customers considered Tesla’s low maintenance costs and electricity prices versus gasoline, they could save around $22,000 over four to five years.
“Tesla does not provide a maintenance plan because most of the services are done remotely through software updates, which reduces the cost of ownership. And the cost of charging at home is a tenth of the price of gasoline,” he told reporters in Gurugram, where the company opened its largest sales and service center in the country on Wednesday.
Agarwal, who joined Tesla earlier in November, was previously the head of luxury car maker Lamborghini in India.
In India, Tesla competes with domestic rivals such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors and global players such as India’s SAIC Motor unit and Vietnamese EV maker VinFast Auto.
The company is also gradually rolling out its compressor network in India, starting with Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram.
Published – 27 Nov 2025 09:13 IST
