Tesla’s long-awaited India debut comes as the government considers lowering EV import duties in a U.S. trade deal.

Tesla inaugurated its first showroom in India on Tuesday, located in Mumbai. The launch was followed by a dramatic showcase on Wednesday when Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde drove a Tesla car into the state legislature premises,

BYD undercuts Tesla quite significantly. The Sealion 7 Premium variant is priced at ₹ 48.90 lakh, while the high-performance AWD version costs ₹ 54.90 lakh (both ex-showroom). BYD’s aggressive pricing strategy makes the Sealion 7 a compelling alternative for those seeking a feature-rich and high-performance EV without crossing the ₹ 60 lakh mark.

Tesla has already announced four major charging stations in important locations like Lower Parel, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Navi Mumbai, and Thane.

The Indian version of Tesla’ website lists two models of the only EV it will begin delivering this fall, the Model Y. The entry-level version is a standard range, single-motor, rear-wheel drive Y that offers zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) in 5.9 seconds and a 311-mile (500 km) WLTP range.

With its sales cratering in the West, the electric vehicle giant is making a high-stakes pivot to the world's third-largest auto market.

The Tesla India entry marked a new beginning in the country's EV landscape, with the company's Model Y launched to compete against BYD Sealion 7 and BMW iX1 among others.