Tesla to enter India with the new Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 could soon make its way to the Indian shores. The electric car manufacturer today unveiled its most affordable vehicle yet in Hawthorne, California and announced that it plans to take orders from India.

Prior to the reveal, Elon Musk, Tesla founder and CEO said in a tweet that online bookings would commence in countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and Ireland.

Fourth model to join Tesla’s all-electric line-up, the Model 3 is set to go into production in 2017 with cars priced at $35,000 (around Rs 23 lakh). However, when launched in India, the price could go higher once import costs are accounted for.

Also, the vehicle is likely to benefit from the incentives offered to electric vehicles in the country. Besides, the Indian government has recently laid heavy emphasis on curbing pollution in the country while encouraging the use of electric vehicles.

Like Tesla’s other models, the all-new Model 3 claims to be capable of accelerating from 0-96kph in under six seconds in its most basic form, and can eke out more than 402km from one charge. The exact specifications are yet to be confirmed, the car is claimed to achieve the speed while seating five adults. Musk added that no combustion-engined car of this size can offer as much cabin space. Also, with the lack of combustion engine up front, the front-row passengers can be seated further ahead than normal, which frees more space for those behind, and a single-pane panoramic sunroof gives the cabin a more open feel.

Like the Model S, there are two boot compartments – one at the front and one at the back. And again like the Model S, all Model 3s will come as standard with Tesla’s latest autopilot features, and use a tablet-style dash-mounted infotainment system.

In anticipation for the Model 3’s growing demand, Tesla wants to build 500,000 batteries a year. Its newly built Gigafactory (which has the largest footprint of any building of any kind) in Nevada will produce more lithium-ion batteries than all the other lithium-ion production combined.

Details of Tesla's entry into India are not yet available, but the signs all point to a sure and quick entry. Under the new National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, the government is going to offer subsidies on electric vehicles.  Last year Indian PM Modi met with Tesla founer Elon Musk during his visit to Silicon Valley and expressed keen interest in the vehicles and also Tesla’s electric technology. More recently the government has created a working group under transport minister Nitin Gadkari to evaluate the possibility India being a 100 percent electric vehicle nation by 2030.