[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by GTO

More importantly, Tesla just discontinued right-hand-drive models (news source), even in markets like UK & Australia. UK still allows new LHD cars on their roads, whereas it is banned in India (justifiably).

Thats just Model S and X not 3 and Y and the primary reason being they are built only in Fremont factory for the world. It is still disappointing though. A lot of people who had their order in for S & X Plaid here in Australia are justifiably unhappy. As a consolation they do get $3k off if they buy a Model Y or 3 instead.

[Lobogris]

Originally Posted by shortbread

Tesla needs India more than India needs Tesla.

Originally Posted by SKC-auto

We need more jobs in future tech industry, hope they build Giga factory for Model 2, similar to the one being built in Mexico.
India could be the export hub for RHD cars. Elon Musk is already meeting with French, South Korean, Indonesian politicians.

Neither party needs the other. Tesla will struggle to sell even 10k cars in India after the initial fanboy rush of bookings. From India's perspective, even though all new innovation and investment is welcome, nothing drastic will happen. Companies like BYD, MG and even Tata are doing much more for the EV revolution in India. When Mercedes and BMW struggle to sell even 10k cars per year in India, you can't expect much more from Tesla.

Originally Posted by Briarean

My take is a little different here. Even though Tesla cars are the best EVs in the world, I think we Indians are not ready for it.

Even the most basic ADAS features in our Indian cars are getting confused by the Indian road signs and potholes. It’s not different even on highways and expressways. Moreover, sensing the bikers, Autos, STC buses, trucks, tractors, cattle, and jaywalkers on our roads, may need ADAS on a Quantum computer. With all these issues, Tesla’s Autopilot features and full self-driving capabilities will have a meltdown here.

ADAS is not at all dependent on road signs. I use ADAS every day in India without any issues. You are thinking of self driving. Tesla is not only about self drive. It can be offered without full self driving capability. It doesn't offer full self drive in many countries and even in the US, it is an extra add on requiring around $6k more and many people don't opt for it.

[puntra800]

Not sure how many copies they are going to sell in India if they do come here. My guess is if they do launch they will start with the Model 3 and Model Y, Also the pricing will be at the premium end. I have been in a Model 3 and for a couple of days you enjoy the features and tech but then after the initial aura wears out you start noticing the car actually looks bland, the under thigh support is not that great and for India climatic conditions I would see how much heat gets trapped in the cabin considering their roof. Since the pricing will be at a premium end of the spectrum, customers do expect some kind of pampering and Model 3 I doubt kind of slots into it.

[Briarean]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

ADAS is not at all dependent on road signs. I use ADAS every day in India without any issues. You are thinking of self driving. Tesla is not only about self drive. It can be offered without full self driving capability. It doesn't offer full self drive in many countries and even in the US, it is an extra add on requiring around $6k more and many people don't opt for it.

Regarding ADAS, I have not driven any car with ADAS feature but I have my relatives cursing ADAS when they are on rural roads or even in city traffic (MG Astor and City Hybrid). It might be because of the Level of ADAS or their driving manners. Anyways, ADAS might need to evolve to adapt itself to “Indian driving conditions”, because hell we are not going to change our driving manners.

I believe Tesla car’s main USP is its advanced level of Driving Automation. Without that, it is just a rich man’s BYD. It is the Apple of electric cars.

Some more thoughts on this topic, from my side:

Before committing to a factory for cars, Tesla executives would have done their homework:
 They know the fate of other US car manufacturers in India.
 Building a factory for cars in India, for RHD countries might not be as lucrative, because of the price factor.
 Building their own car dealership network (company-owned store and service center model) in India is again a pain.

Now, I am letting my imagination run wild. As people mentioned here earlier, Tesla is not just a car company, it is an entire ecosystem built around BEV. So, if we have to speculate why Tesla is interested in India, then my guess is - it’s not their car business but their battery / Lithium business.

With the huge Lithium reserves found in J&K and Rajasthan, the govt will auction these lithium reserves to companies that have the technology to extract Lithium. Currently, none of the Indian companies have the expertise, and govt is not going to give these mines to Chinese companies.

Meanwhile, Tesla has started construction of its own Lithium refinery in the USA. It means they have the technology which can be transferred and used in India. For them, getting control over the huge Lithium mines in India will be a boost to their global BEV dominance.

Moreover, as mentioned earlier, they might also set up factories for their solar portfolio and manufacture Solar panels & lithium batteries which can be exported worldwide.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by Briarean

With the huge Lithium reserves found in J&K and Rajasthan,--

Li in Rajasthan?

Baseless, says GSI on claims of lithium find in Rajasthan

Link

[Briarean]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Li in Rajasthan?

Link

I am sorry, I missed that news. Too much excitement I guess!

I hope the J&K is still true.

[Raghu M]

Originally Posted by RaghuVis

Oh my G.O.D! loving all these extreme ranges of emotions!

Myth 1 : Tesla needs India more than India needs Tesla
Reality : Absolutely no! Vehicle Manufacturing is not a lucrative business in India. Ask yourself why Mr Ambani has not ventured into it in decades.

The comparison is off I guess. Is Mr. Ambani a standard in business profitability? If that were to be true, then the real estate, hospitality (hotels) and banking sector are not profitable, why? because Ambani has not ventured into it yet. There are many ventures that Ambani can never set foot in. And the reason is simply because there are a ton of lucrative businesses in India that Ambani might not even be interested in, not because he can't venture into.

[anjan_c2007]

Be sure to get a witty tweet from Elon Musk post the visit, after he is briefed by his honchos. Nothing should go wrong as if something does, the honcho could be fired even before he boards his plane at Delhi for the return journey.

[volkman10]

Tesla had talks with India on auto incentives, battery making.

Tesla is "still testing the waters and trying to understand the local policies"

Tesla's delegation included Karn Budhiraj, a senior supply chain executive based in the United States.

Recent talks have touched on India's taxes on imported cars but have mainly centred on how Tesla could make use of a government scheme

In addition to India, Tesla has been in talks over the past year with officials in Indonesia and South Korea about potential investments.

Link

[androdev]

India is a bit of hedge, not an immediate market to serve:

1. Across the board, people want to dial down China dependence and India is an obvious plan B

2. Indian market is a huge deal to perfect AI. Way too much data and enormous amount of variation.

3. India is a good place for R&D, especially if you need lot of engineers

[sajaijayan]

I think Tesla coming to India would be huge, for India.

The argument whether Indians will buy many Tesla`s is flawed IMO. We just need to ask, does Mexico buy that many Teslas? Will Indonesia, if they set up there? I believe the cheap labour and ports allow India to be an export hub, and that would be great wouldn`t it?

Its like, when Dubai was building the airports, people were asking in a country of 7 million people, why do you need that? Today its the worlds busiest international airport.

We Indians need to think like that. When the world`s largest EV maker ( and possibly news maker ) wants to set base, welcome them and assist them, it will only be good for us, IMHO.

[volkman10]

Tesla is non-committal to India plans as of now. Reiterates India has high tariffs on imported cars.

Tesla stops short of committing to India plant in renewed talks
While the automaker will eventually look to establish a domestic factory to tap India’s vast consumer market, it hasn’t yet presented a formal plan. The executives reiterated their concern about India’s high tariffs on imported cars.

Link

[ohaak]

Originally Posted by Briarean

With all these issues, Tesla’s Autopilot features and full self-driving capabilities will have a meltdown here.

I am more than willing to purchase a quality electric vehicle (EV) from Tesla, without any of the automation features. Tesla has the potential to produce a more affordable model specifically designed for the unique road conditions, consumer affordability, and weather in India. Their concept of affordability may differ from our accustomed standards though.

[Neelavi]

IMO the assumptions about India not being an attractive enough market for premium vehicle manufacture like Tesla are based on the past and current data while any long term investor would look at the future. We are where China was about 15 years back in terms of our per capita income levels and there will be a massive consumption boom going forward as the middle class grows rapidly. Even from the last decade we can see the shift towards more premium products with cars like Creta whose top end variants are nearly 20 lakhs before taxes. So if there are significant sales at 15-20000 usd now, it is not a stretch for these consumers to move to 25-30000 usd levels in the next few years by which the production can ramp up. Tesla clearly would not want to miss out on the India market. It is only a matter of figuring out how to optimise their investments without taking too much risk and getting any concessions from the govt if they can.

[blackwasp]

Tesla is “serious” for Make-in-India this time

According to a media report, electric carmaker Tesla is seriously looking to establish a manufacturing unit in India.

Earlier this month, high ranking officials of Tesla met with PMO’s representatives during their visit to India. Tesla has also submitted a new proposal for the proposed factory in India.

Tesla has long been planning an entry in the Indian marketspace. However, earlier attempts didn’t materialize due to a tariff dispute with the government and the ban on import of vehicles made in China.



However, this time around, the Indian government has released an official comment on the matter. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a high level official has said that Tesla is very serious about India as a production and innovation hub.

The new proposed manufacturing facility will not only build EVs, but also EV batteries. That said, there is no further information like location of the factory, annual production capacity or which models would be made. It is also not known if Tesla will use this facility for export purposes.

Source - Economic Times