Major Hub Opens Amid Weak Demand
Tesla unveils its largest Indian hub as the company struggles with slow sales in Asia’s third-largest market. The new Gurugram centre offers an experience showroom, charging facilities and after-sales support under one roof. Dealership figures show Tesla sold just over 100 cars in India after its much-publicised July debut. People familiar with the firm say Tesla now works to improve India’s EV ecosystem to restore sales momentum. The company offers no direct comment on the low figures. Media reports say Tesla gained only a little more than 600 bookings by mid-September.
Competitors Outpace Tesla
Dealership data seen for this report shows only a small share of bookings converted into sales after September deliveries started. Premium rivals such as BMW, BYD and Mercedes Benz report strong demand helped by festive buying and tax cuts. Tesla plans to lift adoption, grow the charging network and improve customer experience under a three-part strategy. Experts say high taxes and slow adoption still limit EV growth in India. The high upfront cost of Tesla models adds pressure.
Company Highlights Savings
At the Gurugram opening, India head Sharad Agarwal says buyers can save up to two million rupees in four years on fuel and maintenance, which equals a third of the Model Y price. He says remote software updates handle most service tasks, which cuts ownership costs, and home charging costs one tenth of petrol. Autocar India editor Hormazd Sorabjee says Tesla’s sales remain low but calls the approach deliberate. He says the company has only begun its India entry and holds strong room to expand.
Infrastructure Still Trails Demand
EVs account for less than 3% of passenger vehicle sales in India, and charging growth remains slow. The country has about 25,000 stations. Tesla models allow home charging that adds up to 44 miles of range each hour. The company expands its own network with rapid chargers that can deliver around 170 miles in 15 minutes. Tesla’s India weakness mirrors soft global demand across Europe, China and the United States. The firm posted record quarterly revenue in October yet saw profit decline.
Global Challenges Weigh On Strategy
The company reports $28bn in revenue for the quarter ending September, a 12% rise from last year. Profits fall 37% due to tariff-linked costs and research and development spending. In India, Elon Musk shows little interest in local production and continues an import-led plan despite incentives introduced last March to bring global EV makers into the country.
