Tesla is set to open its first showroom in India on July 15, taking a definitive step into one of the world’s largest untapped electric vehicle markets. The “Experience Center,” located at the upscale Maker Maxity Mall in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, will serve as the company’s maiden physical presence in India and is expected to mark the beginning of direct car sales to Indian customers.
The launch event will run for an hour and a half and is expected to feature the display of Tesla’s flagship models, ushering in a new chapter for the EV giant in South Asia. While no official announcement has been made about production, the showroom is widely seen as a strategic foothold for a deeper expansion — potentially including manufacturing — in the future.
Trump Once Opposed Tesla’s India Plans
Tesla’s move into India is unfolding against the backdrop of political tension between CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. Trump, whose administration championed protectionist policies and American industrialism, had in the past publicly criticized Musk for exploring plans to move Tesla production abroad, particularly to countries like India and Mexico.
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Trump said that if Musk wanted to build a factory in India, that was “okay” but also “unfair” to the US.
“That’s unfair to us. It’s very unfair,” he said.
But the recent fallout between Musk and Trump appears to have shifted the dynamics. Musk resigned from Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in May, and the duo have had a public fallout over the president’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Trump has announced a plan to launch his own political movement, the “America Party.”
With that split, Musk seems to be moving forward with his global expansion plans unbothered by political pressure. Although Tesla has not yet announced local manufacturing in India, the Mumbai showroom is widely seen by analysts as a prelude to more significant commitments, including potential investment in a gigafactory.
India Pushes for Local Production
India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made no secret of its ambitions to become a global EV hub. The government has introduced incentives such as reduced import duties (15% vs. the standard 70%) for EV manufacturers willing to invest $500 million and build factories locally. So far, Tesla has resisted these terms, choosing to import vehicles from its plants in Shanghai and Berlin instead.
However, pressure may be mounting. According to analysts, the showroom launch gives Tesla a front-row seat to India’s rapidly evolving EV market, but continued reliance on imported cars will limit its competitiveness due to high tariffs. Indian companies like Tata Motors, and Chinese entrants like BYD, are already offering locally produced, affordable EVs.
Tesla has already begun recruiting aggressively in India. Job listings on LinkedIn reveal plans to hire showroom advisors, vehicle operators for Autopilot data, service technicians, and security staff in Mumbai. The company is also hiring store managers and other personnel in New Delhi, raising speculation that a second showroom may be on the way.
For now, Tesla’s cars will be sold in India through imports, a strategy that allows for early brand visibility but may limit sales volume due to elevated costs. Still, the company’s entrance is seen as a critical first step in building a long-term Indian presence — something Musk has hinted at before, but delayed due to regulatory bottlenecks.
India’s fast-growing urban population, government support for green technology, and push for domestic EV production all make it an attractive target for Tesla. However, the road ahead won’t be easy. Unless Tesla commits to building in India, its vehicles will continue to be priced far above domestic alternatives, dampening its reach.
With the Mumbai showroom set to open next week, Tesla is finally putting wheels on the ground in India — even if its gigafactory dreams in the country remain parked for now. But in a post-Trump fallout era, it appears that Musk’s international expansion plans are no longer constrained by political disapproval from Washington. The only question is how long Tesla can delay local manufacturing before the market forces its next move.
