"Competition Drives Innovation": Anand Mahindra Welcomes Tesla To India
Mahindra and Tata, India's two homegrown brands, dominate the EV landscape in the country. Tesla will compete with Mercedes and BMW in the high-end segment.
"Welcome to India, @elonmusk and @Tesla. One of the world's largest EV opportunities just got more exciting. Competition drives innovation, and there's plenty of road ahead. Looking forward to seeing you at the charging station," the Mahindra Group Chairperson wrote on X.
He also shared a 2017 exchange with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
"India commits to sell only electric cars by 2030. It is already the largest market for solar power," Musk said at the time.
To which Mahindra responded, "Time you got out here Elon. You don't want to leave that whole market to Mahindra do you?? The more the merrier--and greener..!"
"Good point," Musk said.
Welcome to India, @elonmusk and @Tesla.
One of the world's largest EV opportunities just got more exciting.
Competition drives innovation, and there's plenty of road ahead.
Looking forward to seeing you at the charging station. pic.twitter.com/7Uh2ziV0fp
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 15, 2025
Tesla's first Indian showroom is located at Maker Maxity in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The company has the Model Y as its first offering to the Indian auto enthusiasts, available in Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variants. Deliveries are expected to begin in August.
The Model Y starts at Rs 59.89 lakh for the RWD version and Rs 67.89 lakh for the long-range variant. With this pricing, Tesla enters India's luxury EV segment, competing directly with premium offerings from German manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, rather than budget-friendly options from Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.
While Tesla positions itself as a high-end player, several Indian EV models offer comparable range and performance at significantly lower prices.
The Tesla Model Y comes with 60 kWh and 75 kWh battery options, offering a range of 500 km and 622 km (WLTP) respectively. It has a single rear-wheel-drive motor producing 295 hp and 420 Nm of torque, goes from 0-100 kmph in 5.6 seconds, and is priced from Rs 59.89 lakh.
The Mahindra XEV 9e offers 59 kWh and 79 kWh battery options, with an ARAI-certified range of up to 659 km. It starts at Rs 21.90 lakh and delivers over 500 km in real-world conditions.
The Mahindra BE 6 also comes with 59 kWh and 79 kWh battery packs, offering 557-638 km of range. It uses a rear-wheel-drive setup and is priced from Rs 18.90 lakh.
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Indian Express
a minute ago
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Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths. India on Saturday (July 26) advised its citizens in Cambodia to avoid travelling to border areas as the clash between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed border entered its third day. Send your feedback and ideas to Ashiya Parveen is working as Commissioning Editor for the UPSC Section at The Indian Express. She also writes a weekly round up of global news, The World This Week. Ashiya has more than 10 years of experience in editing and writing spanning media and academics, and has both academic and journalistic publications to her credit. She has previously worked with The Pioneer and Press Trust of India (PTI). She also holds a PhD in international studies from Centre for West Asian Studies, JNU. ... Read More
The Hindu
a minute ago
- The Hindu
PM Modi departs for home after concluding visit to Maldives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (July 26, 2025) left for home after wrapping up his two-day visit to the Maldives where he joined the celebrations marking the island nation's 60th Independence Day. "A very fruitful & productive State visit to Maldives concludes. PM @narendramodi emplanes for India," the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in an X post. Mr. Modi reached here on Friday (July 25) at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. On Saturday (July 26), the Prime Minister was warmly welcomed at the iconic Republic Square, where he graced the Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives as the guest of honour. "It was an honour to attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives. This momentous occasion showcased the rich cultural heritage and vibrant spirit of the Maldivian people," Mr. Modi said in a social media post. "It also signified the country's journey of transformation over the years gone by. From its ancient maritime traditions to global leadership in critical areas like climate change, the Maldives has carved a unique place for itself on the world stage. My best wishes to the great Maldivian people," he added. Earlier, he also interacted with the Indian community in the Maldives and commended their contribution to the Indian Ocean archipelago's progress. "The Indian diaspora continues to be one of the strongest bridges between India and the world. We are very proud of our diaspora," he said in a post on X. He interacted with the beneficiaries of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, and said that they "truly embody the spirit of the India-Maldives friendship and the deep-rooted ties that unite our two nations". On Friday, the Prime Minister held extensive talks with President Muizzu, focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, defence and maritime security. After the talks, India announced a ₹4,850 crore line of credit for the Maldives and agreed to finalise a free trade deal soon.
