CM Fadnavis Visits Tesla Showroom In Mumbai Ahead Of Grand Inauguration; WATCH
Ahead of the official inauguration, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik visited the Tesla showroom, signaling strong government support
In a milestone moment for India’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape, Tesla is all set to launch its first showroom in the country. The highly anticipated opening will take place on Tuesday morning at Maker Maxity Mall, located in Mumbai’s bustling Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).
Ahead of the official inauguration, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik visited the Tesla showroom, signaling strong government support for the EV giant’s entry into the Indian market.
Teaser Fuels Buzz Around India Debut
The buzz around Tesla’s arrival intensified last Friday when the company’s India-focused X (formerly Twitter) handle posted a cryptic teaser featuring the words "Coming soon" accompanied by a graphic, indicating that July 2025 would mark the beginning of Tesla’s operations in India.
#LIVE | Inauguration of the 'Tesla Experience Center' at the hands of CM Devendra Fadnavis@Dev_Fadnavis @Tesla_India#Maharashtra #DevendraFadnavis #Mumbai https://t.co/7PVD6CoY5d
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) July 15, 2025
Though the company has remained tight-lipped about its broader strategy, the teaser and subsequent developments have drawn significant attention from both the automotive sector and consumers.
No Plans For Local Manufacturing Yet
Despite heightened anticipation, Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy had clarified in June that Tesla is not looking to manufacture in India at this stage.
"They want to sell their car in India. There is no further development about Tesla," Kumaraswamy had stated during a media briefing, emphasizing that the company's current focus is limited to retail operations.
According to an ANI report citing sources, Tesla plans to import its vehicles and retail them through showrooms rather than set up local manufacturing units, at least for now.
Hiring And Policy Changes Signal Momentum
Earlier this year, Tesla ramped up hiring efforts in India, a move seen as preparation for a larger market push. CEO Elon Musk had previously cited high import duties as a key obstacle to launching in India. However, the landscape shifted with the Indian government’s newly announced EV policy, offering lower import tariffs and incentives to attract global players like Tesla.
Further strengthening bilateral engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Elon Musk in April to explore areas of technological collaboration. This followed an in-person meeting in February during Modi’s visit to the United States.
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