Tesla Cars in India

One of the front runners of the expanding EV market, Tesla Motors is among the most famous names in the global auto industry. Founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003, the brand is named after the late Nikola Tesla, an esteemed physicist and an electrical engineer who patented AC induction motor technology in 1988. Elon Musk, who majorly led the initial funding, is today the CEO and the main face of Tesla Motors. All over the world, Tesla cars have made a mark with their technological advancement, revolutionising the industry, and setting a benchmark for all other electric car makers. For the past few years, there has been a lot of buzz about Tesla starting its operations in India, however, Elon Musk has shown some real intent regarding the same recently. In this article, we look at the electric cars Tesla is expected to launch in India in the coming years.

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 sedan is the entry point to the Tesla world and experiencing it gives you a clear overall picture of how far Tesla has stepped into the future. For example, it packs the most minimalist interior ever – something which has become the hallmark of Tesla. With no instrument cluster or buttons on the dashboard, the 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment becomes the centre of attraction and control. Only a couple of buttons on the steering control the wing mirrors, the position of the steering column, and turn signals. Whereas its infotainment, along with HVAC and other controls, also features a lot of video games, and when you play them using the steering and paddles of this American electric sedan, it lends out a game arcade atmosphere. It can also entertain you plenty with its zippy performance and impressively responsive steering – to a considerable degree it does feel like a driver’s car. While space available is ample in the front seats and decent for the rear seat, the glass roof that extends till the tailgate ups the sense of airiness. With all this, the Model 3 sports an appealing set of modern-day features such as an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen for rear passengers, ventilated, heated, and powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, two wireless chargers and more.

Now, Tesla isn’t known for the build quality of its cars, but they go all nine yards in equipping their cars with as many safety features as possible. Like all its elder siblings, the Model 3 comes with some standard Level-2 ADAS safety features such as automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Some other ADAS features such as lane keeping assist, aerial view camera system, front collision mitigation, driver monitoring  are available higher up in the variants.

Expected price in India: Rs. 60 lakh

Tesla Model 3 Specifications

• Battery: 60 – 79 kWh
• Range:  438 – 585 km
• Airbags: 6 airbags
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Sedan

Tesla Model Y

Based on the Tesla Model 3, the Model Y SUV is focused more towards comfortable transport rather than driving entertainment. For starters, it gets more space in the rear seat to comfortably accommodate three adults. It also offers 855-litre boot space and 117-litre frunk (space under the bonnet), ensuring luggage will never be a problem with the Model Y. On the inside, it shares most of its interior with the Model 3; the same minimalist layout with a large 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment to control everything. Being a big bulky SUV for leisurely commutes, the Model Y drives rather sedately, which agrees well with its high-riding body style. That isn’t to say it’s not quick as it can do a 0 to 100 km/hr dash in 3.7 seconds. Such speed should come with good safety which Tesla has ensured by equipping the Model Y with multiple standard safety features such as automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with a lane-cantering feature, and multiple airbags.

Expected price in India: Rs. 70 lakh

Tesla Model Y Specifications

• Battery: 60 – 78 kWh
• Range:  450 – 515 km
• Airbags: 8 airbags
• Seating Capacity: 5 & 7 (optional)
• Body Type: SUV

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S is a massively popular electric car and has been on sale for more than a decade. It has earned its fame with its blistering performance, 0 to 100 km/hr in 2 seconds, that’s remarkably quick and can put sports cars to shame. With such a zip, the Model S offers the reassurance of a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, which it has bagged with a bunch of autonomous features (ADAS) that come as standard, for example, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, available adaptive cruise control with a hands-free driving mode. Before you get excited, mistaking the hands-free driving mode as a self-driving feature, you should know that it’s a more advanced adaptive cruise control which consists of an automatic lane-changing system, and an automatic parking feature among other tricks. Nevertheless, its design is in significant contrast with its performance. The Model S features an overall good mix of sleek and sophisticated design, although there is a bit of aggression at the front with pointy headlamp clusters and creases on the bonnet. On the inside, in true Tesla fashion, it packs a minimalist interior and a host of high-tech features including a 9.4-inch touchscreen display for the rear passengers. Moreover, all three rear seats can be adjusted independently of each other and are sufficiently spacious for three sitting abreast.

Note: The Tesla Model S is only produced as left-hand-drive versions and the same is expected for India if Tesla chooses to sell the electric sedan as a CBU.

Expected price in India: Rs. 1.5 Cr

Tesla Model S Specifications

• Battery: 99.3 kWh
• Range:  578 – 647 km
• Airbags: 8 airbags
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Sedan

Tesla Model X

Tesla Model X SUV is the more spacious and practical version of the Model S sedan. Available in five-, six-, and seven-seater versions, the Model X offers great flexibility, and is fairly accommodating for all passengers. Much like all other Tesla cars, its interior feels a unique departure from the familiar settings seen in luxury electric cars of big names such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. What takes it further away from the norm is the ‘Falcon Wing’ rear doors that are hinged from the top and open upwards. These doors are not only fashionable, but they also allow relatively easy ingress and egress for passengers of the last row. On the go, the Model X is a breeze to drive and delivers a creamy smooth ride. As far as performance is concerned, it isn’t too far from its sedan twin, Model S. The range-topping model of this rather big electric SUV can sprint from 0 to 100 km/hr in 2.5 seconds, while the lower model can do the same in 3.8 seconds.

Note: The Tesla Model X is only produced as left-hand-drive versions and the same is expected for India if Tesla chooses to sell the electric sedan as a CBU.

Expected price in India: Rs. 2 Cr

Tesla Model X Specifications

• Battery: 100 kWh
• Range:  525 – 540 km
• Airbags: 8 airbags
• Seating Capacity: 5,6, and 7
• Body Type: SUV

Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla Cybertruck is one of the most unique automobiles in the world. For a start, with its sharp-edged stainless-steel which Tesla claims to be bulletproof, the Cybertruck looks exotic and super tough. Now, generally, pick-up trucks feel a bit jittery while driving if they aren’t carrying any load, but with adaptive dampers and air suspension, the Cybertruck drives feel thoroughly intact and stable with or without the payload. Speaking of payload, it can haul up to 2,500 pounds which is 1,134 kgs of payload in its tonneau and tow up to 11,000 pounds which is 4990 kgs. Inside the Cybertruck is a good amount of space for five, with no physical controls and only two touchscreen infotainments – an 18.5-inch one at the front and a 9.4-inch one at the back. Like other Tesla cars, these infotainment systems consist of most controls and a digital path to entertainment such as video games (front screen), Netflix, YouTube, and others. With all this, the Cybertruck can also deliver an exhilarating performance with an ability to a 0 to 100 km/hr dash in 2.6 seconds.

Expected price in India: Rs. 2.40 Cr

Tesla Cybertruck Specifications

• Battery: 123 kWh
• Range:  403 – 548 km
• Airbags:  airbags
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Pick-up Truck

Summary

In Tesla’s lineup, surprising as it sounds, sedans are more drivers’ cars than SUVs. While the Model 3 sedan is fascinatingly zippy, the Model S sedan is one of the quickest electric cars in the world. On the other hand, the SUV versions of these sedans, Model Y and Model X are more focused towards practicality. Then, there is the outlandish Cybertruck which can haul more than a ton and tow around 5.5 tons which is heavier than an Asian elephant.

Almost all EV makers in the world are struggling to catch up to the level of advancement Tesla offers in its cars. As a matter of fact, Tesla is the brand which has promoted EV adoption far more than any other brand across the globe. Setting up an expansive supercharging network in America, and manufacturing the most advanced EVs that offer extensively long ranges, Tesla is going great guns in shifting the auto industry towards a greener avenue. Once launched in India, Tesla cars will surely up the ante for all EV makers and EV buyers in India will have access to some of the most futuristic electric cars in the world.

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