Tesla’s First Showroom Opening in India Leaves Early Backers Feeling Disappointed
Tesla, the innovative electric car company founded by Elon Musk, recently opened its first showroom in India. Among the first visitors was Vishal Gondal, a long-time Tesla and Musk supporter who pre-booked a Model 3 in 2016. However, despite his early enthusiasm, Gondal expressed a sense of disappointment after visiting the showroom in Mumbai.
Gondal, the founder and CEO of fitness-tech startup GOQii, shared his underwhelming experience at the maiden Tesla showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex. He had been eagerly awaiting Tesla’s debut in India for nearly a decade, only to find himself chasing the company for a refund in 2023, after multiple attempts to retrieve his $1,000 reservation fee.
Reflecting on his journey as an early Tesla backer, Gondal expressed frustration at the prolonged delay in Tesla’s launch in India. He highlighted the challenges faced by early reservation holders who never received their Model 3s or struggled to secure refunds, despite their initial support for the brand.
Similarly, Varun Krishnan, the founder of tech blog FoneArena, and Amit Bhavani, the founder of Phoneradar, shared their experiences as early Tesla backers in India. Krishnan lamented the lengthy approval process for Tesla compared to other initiatives like Starlink, while Bhavani criticized Tesla’s lack of communication with early reservation holders.
The lack of communication and acknowledgment from Tesla towards its early supporters has left many feeling neglected and disillusioned. Arun Bhatt, the founder of Tesla Club India, emphasized the disappointment felt by reservation holders who had patiently waited for years, only to be left in the dark about the status of their reservations.
Despite their initial excitement and support for Tesla, many early backers like Gondal, Bhavani, and Bhatt are now hesitant to invest in Tesla’s offerings. The delayed launch, coupled with the lack of engagement with early supporters, has raised concerns about the brand’s commitment to its loyal fan base in India.
As Tesla navigates its entry into the Indian market, the company faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and rekindling the enthusiasm of its early backers. The road ahead may require Tesla to address the grievances of its loyal supporters and foster a more inclusive and transparent relationship with its Indian audience. However, as Tesla’s launch in India has been delayed, the focus of the Tesla Club in the country has shifted from solely promoting Tesla vehicles to advocating for electric vehicles (EVs) and clean energy awareness. This change reflects the evolving landscape of the EV market in India.
One major concern among early Tesla supporters in India is the lack of clarity surrounding the establishment of a local Supercharger network and after-sales service for Tesla vehicles. While Tesla has announced plans to set up eight charging stations in Delhi and Mumbai before deliveries begin in Q3, questions remain about whether this infrastructure will be sufficient to support Tesla drivers in these cities. Additionally, there have been no details released regarding how Tesla will handle after-sales care for its cars in India.
As the launch of Tesla vehicles in India has been delayed, some enthusiasts like Krishnan from FoneArena have become more cautious in their vehicle purchase decisions. Practical considerations, such as the availability of a Supercharger network, now weigh more heavily in their minds.
Moreover, Elon Musk’s recent political involvement and alignment with figures like Trump have turned off some potential Indian Tesla drivers. Musk’s shifting public persona from visionary entrepreneur to polarizing political figure has impacted Tesla’s reputation not only in the U.S. but also in international markets like India. The fallout from Musk’s political entanglements has dimmed the shine of Tesla in the eyes of some Indian consumers.
The pricing of Tesla’s Model Y in India, starting at ₹59,89,000, has also raised eyebrows among potential buyers. The fact that Tesla is importing the Model Y from China, incurring tariffs in the process, has resulted in a higher price tag for Indian consumers compared to the U.S. market. This has limited the appeal of Tesla vehicles to a niche segment of affluent buyers in India.
Despite these challenges, the potential for Tesla to manufacture vehicles locally in India holds promise for the future of the EV market in the country. If Tesla can establish a manufacturing presence in India, it could pave the way for other luxury automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi to consider producing India-centric vehicles for the first time. This shift could significantly boost the adoption of EVs in India and drive innovation in the automotive industry.
Overall, while Tesla’s delayed entry into the Indian market has dampened some of the initial excitement surrounding the brand, there remains optimism about the potential for growth and development in the EV sector in India. As the market continues to evolve and adapt to changing consumer preferences, the role of companies like Tesla in driving innovation and sustainability will be crucial in shaping the future of mobility in the country.
India’s automobile giant Tata Motors has dominated the country’s electric car market in recent years, though others — including China’s MG Motor, which recently signed a joint venture with Indian conglomerate JSW Group — are starting to gain ground.
The premium segment remains niche in the country, though the increasing number of high-net-worth individuals has led to a 66 percent year-over-year rise in the sales of premium EVs during the first five months of 2025, Abhik Mukherjee, a research analyst for automotive and IoT at Counterpoint, told TechCrunch.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, and select models from Hyundai and Kia are sitting in the segment where Tesla has brought the Model Y to the country.
“Tesla’s current price point is unlikely to cause any dent to the brands operating within that price range,” Mukherjee said.
Nonetheless, Tesla’s debut is likely to draw some customer attention to electric cars in a market where two-wheelers dominate the EV space.
“People will at least put EVs in their consideration set. Will Tesla sell a lot of cars? I don’t think so … Will Tesla increase the sales of other EV brands? I think so,” Khattar of AdvantEdge Founders said.
Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
