Tesla has been teasing us Indians with the prospect of being launched in India for a good number of years now. However, due to reasons unknown, the company has eluded our market space. Earlier this year, Elon Musk reiterated his commitment to bring Tesla to India by replying to a tweet on Twitter. In the Tweet, Musk claimed that 2021 would be the year Tesla comes to India. He also mentioned that an online configurator would be in place by January 2021. This time, however, Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari has also confirmed the entry of this American carmaker.
According to various reports, the Model 3 will be the first car to be launched in India. Launched in 2017, the Model 3 is the most affordable Tesla. As a result, it has become the most popular offering of the American manufacturer. Internationally, a total of three trim levels – Standard plus, long-range AWD and performance are on offer.
As the names would suggest, the various trim levels have different performance and driving range to offer. The standard plus comes with one motor, powering the rear wheels. The other two variants, the long-range AWD and performance, come with a dual motor setup, one for each axle.
Moving ahead, let us talk about performance and range. Here is what each variant of the Model 3 has to offer.
| Variant –> | Standard Plus | Long-Range AWD | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 100 kmph (Seconds) | 5.3 | 4.2 | 3.1 |
| Range (Kilometres) | 423 | 568 | 507 |
The car will be offered as a CBU in India, with the price estimated to start at INR 50 Lakh. If there is a great demand for the car, Tesla may even consider establishing a plant for local manufacturing. It may also be noted that various Indian states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and some more have already invited the American company to set up its facility.
Author: Videh Vora
