Tesla Model 3 is seen with a MoRTH secretary for a short test drive after a meeting with a company official in the national capital.
MoRTH secretary Giridhar Armane with a company official conducts a short test drive in a Tesla Model 3
A lot has been said about Tesla coming to India. With US electric carmakers already testing potential dealership locations and electric cars for various agencies, the launch seems closer than ever. Adding to the speculation is the recent meeting of a Tesla India official with Giridhar Armane, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in Delhi. The video shows a Tesla Model 3 in a government office, with the secretary in the passenger seat as a Tesla representative takes the government official for a short test drive in the Model 3 sedan.
Read also: Tesla asked to increase localization, share India plans before getting tax break
EXCLUSIVE: Tesla India official meets Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. After the meeting the secretary sat in a Tesla Model 3 and went for a short drive with a Tesla representative. @Elon Musk @ Tesla pic.twitter.com/EwF9h23W2C
— Chetan Bhutani (@BhutaniChetan) September 15, 2021
While the details of the meeting remain secret, it certainly fueled Tesla’s arrival in the country. In January this year, co-founder Elon Musk confirmed the brand’s foray into India via a tweet. But unlike the previous years, there has been some movement on the ground with the same. Tesla is reportedly looking for spaces for its showrooms in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru in the upscale areas of the respective cities.
The Tesla Model 3 could be the brand’s first offering in both the standard and long range options in the country
A previous report indicated that Tesla asked the Indian government if import duties could be reduced to 40 percent from the current 60-100 percent. Besides this, the company also asked the government whether the 10 per cent social welfare surcharge could be waived. Mounted on all imported cars, it is used for health care and education programs across the country. In response, the Ministry of Heavy Industry and the Ministry of Finance asked Tesla to consider local assembly of cars for any tax breaks, as well as increase localization and share ramp-up plans.
Read also: Tesla Model 3 spied in India again
There has been no update since the tax break for the electric car maker. It will also start a debate as to why Tesla has a special advantage when brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Jaguar are paying full import duty to introduce electric cars here.
Tesla recently requested the Indian government for a tax break to reduce the cost of selling its CBU vehicles in the country.
Meanwhile, the Tesla Model 3 is expected to be the brand’s first offering in India. The entry-level sedan in Tesla’s range is priced at $35,000-44,000 (approx ₹26-33 lakh) in the US, but could cost over ₹60 lakh in India. Tesla could bring both the standard and long range variants of the car which cover a range of 423 km and 568 km respectively.
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Source: Chetan Bhutani on Twitter
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