logo
Tesla debuts in India — but its too expensive for most residents

Tesla debuts in India — but its too expensive for most residents

New York Post15-07-2025
NEW DELHI — Tesla Inc. opened its first showroom in India on Tuesday, marking the electric vehicle maker's long-anticipated debut in the world's third-biggest automotive market.
Located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, an upscale business center in the financial capital Mumbai, the showroom will serve as Tesla's flagship retail and experience outlet as the company introduces its EV lineup to Indian customers.
Tesla's entry to India comes after years of delays and policy friction, marking a pivotal expansion in a fast-growing consumer base while global sales are plunging and the company faces challenges in its two core markets, China and the U.S.
9 Tesla logo on the window of its first showroom in Mumbai.
REUTERS
Sales of Tesla electric cars fell sharply from April to June as boycotts over Elon Musk's political views continued keeping buyers away.
For India, Tesla's entry signals rising investor confidence and strengthens its move towards clean mobility, although Tesla's higher pricing is likely to make its cars unaffordable for most Indians.
The country's nascent electric vehicle market made up a little more than 2% of total car sales last year. But the government wants to change that and increase the electric vehicle share to 30% by 2030.
Tesla will begin by importing and selling its popular Y model cars in India. The base price would be 6.78 million rupees ($79,089) for the long-range, rear-wheel drive vehicle, according to a presentation by the company during the showroom launch Tuesday. Delivery is expected to start from the third quarter, Tesla officials said.
9 Policemen stand guard as a three-wheeler auto-rickshaw drives past India's first Tesla showroom.
AP
9 Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of Twitter, attending the Viva Technology conference.
REUTERS
By comparison, the price tag is around $44,990 in the U.S without a federal tax credit.
Tesla will compete mostly with German luxury carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes Benz Group AG, and not budget Indian players like Tata Motors Ltd. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. The luxury car market makes up just about 1% of total vehicle sales
The debut by American EV giant, however, would bring in world class technology to the country, auto analyst Gaurav Vangaal said.
9 India's nascent electric vehicle market made up a little more than 2% of total car sales last year. But the government wants to change that and increase the electric vehicle share to 30% by 2030.
AFP via Getty Images
'With deeper local investments, Tesla can accelerate India's EV ecosystem, drive innovation and support the government's goal of higher EV penetration,' said Vangaal, an associate director with S&P Global Mobility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has wooed Tesla for years for its global brand value and to boost the country's clean energy endeavors.
CEO Elon Musk invited Indians in April 2016 to preorder the upcoming Tesla Model 3. Several customers placed an order but the cars never arrived and the booking amount had to be refunded.
9 The debut by American EV giant, however, would bring in world class technology to the country, auto analyst Gaurav Vangaal said.
AFP via Getty Images
9 Tesla's regional director speaking at the inauguration of India's first Tesla showroom.
AFP via Getty Images
Despite his earlier enthusiasm, in 2019 Musk expressed concern in a post on his social media platform X that import taxes could double prices of Tesla cars, making them 'unaffordable.'
Tesla pressed Indian authorities to cut import taxes on EVs, which were up to 100%, to be able to test the local market. New Delhi, however, wanted Tesla to set up manufacturing facilities so a comprehensive policy could benefit all the players in the sector.
The dynamics changed after Modi and Musk met in the U.S. in February during a state visit by Modi.
9 Red Tesla Model Y at its India showroom launch.
AFP via Getty Images
Barely a month later, India rolled out a new policy to woo the likes of Tesla, reducing import taxes to 15% from 70% to 100% for EVs priced cheaper than $35,000 as long the automaker committed to building a factory in the country within three years.
Soon after, Musk announced he would visit India in April to meet Modi. It was widely expected he would unveil Tesla's plans to set up manufacturing facilities and commit billions of dollars in investments. But Musk cancelled the visit, citing 'very heavy Tesla obligations,' and travelled to China instead.
Since then, Tesla has conveyed it does not have an immediate interest in manufacturing in India.
9 Despite his earlier enthusiasm, in 2019 Musk expressed concern in a post on his social media platform X that import taxes could double prices of Tesla cars, making them 'unaffordable.'
REUTERS
9 Tesla South East Asia director Isabelle Fan, third right, poses for a photographs with Tesla India team at the newly opened showroom in Mumbai, India.
AP
U.S. President Donald Trump has said it would be 'unfair' to the U.S. if Tesla builds a factory in India to circumvent that country's tariffs. India and the U.S. are currently negotiating a bilateral trade agreement for greater market access and reducing tariffs on most goods, including automobiles.
Besides bringing Tesla to India, Musk's India ambition has been to launch Starlink's commercial internet services. The plan got a boost recently after the company secured regulatory clearances.
Starlink now needs to secure telecommunications airwaves from the government, which may take at least a couple of months, before the services are formally launched.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

China calls for the creation of a global AI organization
China calls for the creation of a global AI organization

Engadget

time23 minutes ago

  • Engadget

China calls for the creation of a global AI organization

China wants to work with other countries and has laid out its plans for the global governance of artificial intelligence at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. Li Qiang, the country's premier, warned about "technological monopolies" and said that AI could become "an exclusive game for a few countries and companies." As such, he proposed the creation of a "world AI cooperation organization" during the event. Li didn't specifically mention the United States when he talked about monopolies, but the US restricts AI chip exports to his country. NVIDIA had to develop chips that are only meant for China and conform to export rules so it wouldn't lose the Chinese market completely. Meanwhile, Chinese companies like Huawei are developing their own AI systems to make up for China's lack of access to more advanced AI chips from American firms. Li also made the statement a few days after the Trump administration revealed its AI Action Plan, which seeks to limit state regulation of AI companies and which aims to ensure that the US can beat China in the AI race. The Chinese premier said his country would "actively promote" the development of open source artificial intelligence and that China is "willing to provide more Chinese solutions to the international community" when it comes to AI. He also said that his country was eager to share AI technologies with developing countries in the global south. "Currently, overall global AI governance is still fragmented. Countries have great differences, particularly in terms of areas such as regulatory concepts [and] institutional rules," Li said. "We should strengthen coordination to form a global AI governance framework that has broad consensus as soon as possible."

DOGE AI Tool to Target 100K Federal Rules for Elimination: Report
DOGE AI Tool to Target 100K Federal Rules for Elimination: Report

Newsweek

time24 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

DOGE AI Tool to Target 100K Federal Rules for Elimination: Report

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly using a newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) tool to accelerate the rollback of federal regulations, with a stated goal of eliminating 50 percent of all federal rules by the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration, according to a Saturday report from The Washington Post. Internal documents reviewed by the newspaper, along with interviews with four government officials familiar with the project, reveal an ambitious timeline and a wide-ranging use of the tool across various agencies. Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters DOGE was created by Trump through an executive order to improve efficiency and reduce waste in the federal government. It was led by billionaire Elon Musk who departed the administration in May. The reported plan represents one of the most aggressive attempts by the Trump administration to overhaul the federal regulatory system. By automating the deregulation process, the administration aims to reduce government spending and compliance burdens significantly. However, the use of AI to interpret complex legal language and determine regulatory necessity raises legal and practical concerns, particularly regarding accuracy, oversight, and the future role of civil servants in shaping public policy, according to the Post. What to Know The "DOGE AI Deregulation Decision Tool," developed by engineers brought into government under Elon Musk's DOGE initiative, is programmed to scan about 200,000 existing federal rules and flag those that are either outdated or not legally required. According to a PowerPoint presentation dated July 1 that was obtained by the newspaper, the tool estimates that approximately 100,000 of those rules could be eliminated, primarily through automation with minimal human input. The projection claims this could save trillions in compliance costs and spark increased external investment. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), AI has already reviewed over 1,000 regulatory sections in under two weeks. Similarly, it was responsible for "100% of deregulations" at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), according to the PowerPoint presentation. The Post, however, reported it was not able to confirm the use of AI at the agency independently. When asked about the use of AI for deregulation, White House spokesman Harrison Fields emphasized to the newspaper that "all options are being explored" to meet the president's deregulation goals. He clarified that no single plan has been finalized, and the effort is still in early, creative stages with ongoing consultation within the White House. DOGE plans to complete agency-specific deregulation lists by September 1 and finish nationwide rollout by January 20, 2026—labeled in internal documents as "Relaunch America." Agencies are currently receiving training on how to integrate the AI tool into their regulatory review process. The presentation claims the tool could save 93 percent of the labor typically required to gut federal rules, reducing what would usually take 3.6 million work hours to just 36. Despite these goals, some federal employees expressed concern about accuracy. One HUD employee told the Post that the AI misinterpreted statutes and flagged legal language as non-compliant when it was accurate. HUD confirmed to the newspaper that while the agency is exploring AI to streamline efficiency, the system is not intended to replace expert judgment. The push to eliminate regulations is not new for Trump. In January, he issued an executive order mandating the repeal of 10 rules for every new one added. Departments like Transportation and Labor have already reported dozens of regulatory cuts. However, experts question whether such repeals will withstand scrutiny under the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the legal process for rescinding rules. Previous attempts to bypass procedural safeguards—such as Trump's reversal of showerhead regulations—have faced legal scrutiny. DOGE's lawyers have reportedly vetted the tool, but concerns remain about whether its recommendations will be upheld in court or trusted by the private sector. While DOGE initially tried to play a leading role in the deregulation campaign, internal resistance from federal employees has slowed momentum. Agencies questioned DOGE's subject matter expertise and hesitated to outsource rulemaking authority to a third-party system. Moreover, the administration's efforts to downsize the federal workforce have hampered its ability to implement the deregulation strategy. An American flag waves at the U.S. Capitol Building on June 10 in Washington, D.C. An American flag waves at the U.S. Capitol Building on June 10 in Washington, People Are Saying Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan, told The Washington Post about Trump's unilateral efforts to cut regulations: "There's been some flashy sideshow efforts to avoid the legal strictures, but in general, they don't stick." White House spokesman Harrison Fields wrote in an email obtained by The Washington Post: "The DOGE experts creating these plans are the best and brightest in the business and are embarking on a never-before-attempted transformation of government systems and operations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness." What Happens Next? Over the next several months, agencies will use the DOGE AI tool to select rules for repeal, respond to public comments, and finalize deregulation plans. Whether the courts, the public, and the agencies themselves accept that transformation remains uncertain.

Elon Musk is threatening to put third-party candidates on the ballot. Democrats are giddy.
Elon Musk is threatening to put third-party candidates on the ballot. Democrats are giddy.

Politico

time24 minutes ago

  • Politico

Elon Musk is threatening to put third-party candidates on the ballot. Democrats are giddy.

'My first reaction was, it seems pretty confined in substance,' Mayo said. 'And because of that, I think it pulls some of the following that he has that has sort of found its way into the Republican Party base.' Musk did not respond to a request for comment sent via email. Voters regularly overstate how likely they are to vote or join a third party. But recent polling suggests Americans are at least theoretically open to it. While nearly half of voters say they would consider joining a third party, only 17 percent are interested in joining a Musk-led option, according to polling from Quinnipiac University from earlier this month. But that party could pull disproportionately from the GOP, per the survey, which found that nearly three times as many Republicans as Democrats would consider joining Musk's proposed third party. Barrett Marson, a Republican political strategist in Arizona, cautioned that a libertarian-minded candidate backed by Musk could attract support from either direction, putting Democrats in battleground districts at risk too. 'If anyone can be a spoiler or at least put up a candidate who has a chance to in either direction, it's Elon Musk, because he has the drive and financial wherewithal to match it,' Marson said. Still, Musk's ability to successfully field third-party bids will be highly dependent on the particular districts he targets and the candidates he puts on the ballot, said Charlie Gerow, a Pennsylvania-based GOP operative. 'Elon Musk's money is enough to sway a significant number of elections,' Gerow said. 'But you have to look at the individual candidates and the message they run on. There's a lot of factors that will play into whether or not he's successful. I think at this stage it's hard to predict the outcome when we don't really know what he's going to do.' Even if Musk fails to get candidates on the ballot, his bad blood with Trump will be sorely felt by Republicans, who benefited massively from his largesse in 2024. Ultimately, Democrats are still confident the effort would more than likely play out to their benefit should it come to fruition, said Georgia Democratic Party Chair Charlie Bailey, who is gearing up for one of the most competitive Senate races next year. 'I think if something has Elon Musk's branding on it, that you're not going to attract Democrats, and you're not going to attract many independents,' Bailey said. 'I think if it's got Elon Musk branding, you're likely to attract the vast majority of right-wing Republicans, so I don't think those voters are probably that gettable for us anyway.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store