Tesla Starts Homologation Process For At Least Two Electric Cars In India
Tesla is likely to enter India in the second half of 2025 with a showroom in Mumbai.
Tesla Inc. has started the homologation process of at least two of its electric cars in India, ahead of its entry into the world’s third largest car market.
Tesla India Motor & Energy Pvt. Ltd., the local unit of Elon Musk’s firm, has submitted two new applications for homologation of the Model Y and Model 3 cars in India, people aware of the matter told NDTV Profit. One of the applications is already approved.
The company has till submitted a total of nine homologation applications in India, out of which seven were for test cars previously. An eighth application was approved recently.
Homologation is the process of certifying that a vehicle is roadworthy and matches certain criteria laid out for all vehicles made or imported into India, according to the government’s VAHAN website. The tests ensure that the vehicle matches the requirements of the Indian market in terms of emission and safety and roadworthiness according to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules.
Tesla has already identified showroom space to display its cars in India.
The electric carmaker has leased a 4,003-square feet space in Maker Maxity building in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, according to registration documents sourced from CRE Matrix, a real estate data analytics firm.
The licensee is Tesla India Motor & Energy Pvt. Ltd., which has an office at Panchsheel Business Park in Viman Nagar, Pune. The licensor is Univco Properties LLP.
Tesla India has put down Rs 2.11 crore as security deposit for the space, and will pay Rs 35.26 lakh as monthly rent, the registration documents showed. The rent will increase at the rate of 5% per annum. The rent agreement is for a period of five years.
NDTV Profit has seen a copy of the leave and licence agreement.
The development comes amid fervent newsmaking over Tesla’s entry into India, ever since Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC on Feb. 13.
Since then, Tesla has listed 23 job openings in India—including in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bengaluru—and set its sights on opening showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi. On Feb. 19, NDTV Profit reported that Tesla is likely to enter India in the second half of 2025 with the Model Y in tow.
The Tesla Model Y, upon launch, would cost Rs 60-70 lakh, at least. That would position it against the entry-level EV offerings of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
