Tesla to inject Indian market soon in 2017, just don’t expect the fancy Autopilot system
Tesla seems all set to come in the Indian market sometime in the 2nd half of this year. This information comes from a Twitter update, wherein a user named Ishan Goel asked Elon Musk of Tesla about the company’s entry timeline in India. Musk replied telling “Hoping for this summer”, which implies the launch could take place anytime inbetween June and August, 2017. Interestingly, the Model Trio, Tesla’s most affordable electrical car has been open for booking since last year on the company’s official website for a price of $ 35,000.
What Elon Musk didn’t make clear however was the scope of the company’s entry into the Indian market. Deliveries of the Model three are a given, considering the pre-orders and the service network required to service these cars. While $ 35,000 equates to Rs 23.Five lakh harshly, the Model three will cost a lot more due to the duties it’ll attract being brought in through the entirely built unit (CBU) route. However, the Indian Government has been attempting to thrust electrical and hybrid cars and is also suggesting incentives on their purchase. Owing to this, the Model three will be subjected to some concessions, resulting in a lower price than imported cars of similar value. Musk had earlier voiced interest in setting up a supercharger network too for supporting its customers. Supercharger network permits Tesla users to recharge their car batteries for up to two hundred seventy km range in thirty minutes and a utter charge in seventy five minutes.
Elon Musk had earlier shown interest in setting up a lithium-ion manufacturing plant, also known as the Gigafactory.
While Tesla cars are popular for their autonomous driving technology, it’s unlikely that this technology will be suggested in India. Since Tesla’s Autopilot technology makes use of ultrasonic sensors and cameras, it requires decent lane-marking, road sign identification and a civilised traffic in general. In India, where everything ranging from a dog to a human can be found sprinting across the road and where lane discipline is non-existent, any autopilot system would find it challenging just to get through for a few minutes, let alone drive from point A to point B. In addition, even on higher Tesla models, the self-driving technology is suggested optionally for $ 8,000, which might shove the car’s cost to well over Rs sixty lakh, ex-showroom.
It is also a known fact that Elon Musk had earlier shown interest in setting up a lithium-ion manufacturing plant, also known as the Gigafactory. While the intent falls in line with the Government’s thrust for electrified mobility, any concrete development is yet to be announced. Apart from selling cars in limited numbers, Tesla could have a larger business interest in India for manufacturing, wherein it can capitalise on the country’s low-cost operations and export to international markets. This would permit the company to reduce its battery costs by up to one-third from present levels, resulting in a significant price-reduction of Tesla electrified vehicles since battery accounts for the single-largest cost in an electrified car. In addition, Tesla utilising its first-mover advantage could then further sell batteries to other carmakers, opening up a secondary revenue stream.
Tesla has not yet confirmed any details related to its automotive and non-automotive business plans for India. However, given Musk’s ambitious growth plans for Tesla, it makes sense for the company to come in early.
Tesla to come in Indian market soon in 2017, just don – t expect the fancy Autopilot system – The Financial Express
Tesla to inject Indian market soon in 2017, just don’t expect the fancy Autopilot system
Tesla seems all set to come in the Indian market sometime in the 2nd half of this year. This information comes from a Twitter update, wherein a user named Ishan Goel asked Elon Musk of Tesla about the company’s entry timeline in India. Musk replied telling “Hoping for this summer”, which implies the launch could take place anytime inbetween June and August, 2017. Interestingly, the Model Three, Tesla’s most affordable electrical car has been open for booking since last year on the company’s official website for a price of $ 35,000.
What Elon Musk didn’t make clear however was the scope of the company’s entry into the Indian market. Deliveries of the Model three are a given, considering the pre-orders and the service network required to service these cars. While $ 35,000 equates to Rs 23.Five lakh toughly, the Model three will cost a lot more due to the duties it’ll attract being brought in through the fully built unit (CBU) route. However, the Indian Government has been attempting to shove electrical and hybrid cars and is also suggesting incentives on their purchase. Owing to this, the Model three will be subjected to some concessions, resulting in a lower price than imported cars of similar value. Musk had earlier voiced interest in setting up a supercharger network too for supporting its customers. Supercharger network permits Tesla users to recharge their car batteries for up to two hundred seventy km range in thirty minutes and a total charge in seventy five minutes.
Elon Musk had earlier shown interest in setting up a lithium-ion manufacturing plant, also known as the Gigafactory.
While Tesla cars are popular for their autonomous driving technology, it’s unlikely that this technology will be suggested in India. Since Tesla’s Autopilot technology makes use of ultrasonic sensors and cameras, it requires decent lane-marking, road sign identification and a civilised traffic in general. In India, where everything ranging from a dog to a human can be found sprinting across the road and where lane discipline is non-existent, any autopilot system would find it challenging just to sustain for a few minutes, let alone drive from point A to point B. In addition, even on higher Tesla models, the self-driving technology is suggested optionally for $ 8,000, which might thrust the car’s cost to well over Rs sixty lakh, ex-showroom.
It is also a known fact that Elon Musk had earlier shown interest in setting up a lithium-ion manufacturing plant, also known as the Gigafactory. While the intent falls in line with the Government’s shove for electrical mobility, any concrete development is yet to be announced. Apart from selling cars in limited numbers, Tesla could have a larger business interest in India for manufacturing, wherein it can capitalise on the country’s low-cost operations and export to international markets. This would permit the company to reduce its battery costs by up to one-third from present levels, resulting in a significant price-reduction of Tesla electrified vehicles since battery accounts for the single-largest cost in an electrical car. In addition, Tesla utilising its first-mover advantage could then further sell batteries to other carmakers, opening up a secondary revenue stream.
Tesla has not yet confirmed any details related to its automotive and non-automotive business plans for India. However, given Musk’s ambitious growth plans for Tesla, it makes sense for the company to come in early.