Tesla Promises $22,000 Savings on Model Y Running Costs in India

Key Takeaways

• Tesla Model Y owners in India can save up to $22,000 in running costs over 4-5 years
• The company has sold just over 100 Model Y units since September deliveries began
• Tesla is expanding its supercharger network starting with major metro cities

Tesla is highlighting significant long-term savings on maintenance and fuel costs to attract Indian buyers to its premium electric vehicles. According to the company’s India head, customers could recover approximately one-third of the Model Y’s $67,000 price tag through lower operating expenses over four to five years.

Substantial Cost Savings Potential

Tesla India General Manager Sharad Agarwal revealed that Indian customers could save around $22,000 over four to five years when considering Tesla’s low maintenance costs and electricity expenses compared to traditional petrol vehicles.

“Tesla does not provide a maintenance schedule because most of the service is done remotely through software updates which reduces the cost of ownership. And the cost of home charging is one tenth of petrol prices,” Agarwal stated during the inauguration of Tesla’s largest sales and service center in Gurugram.

Challenging Market Entry

Tesla entered the Indian market in July with imported Model Y vehicles, which carry a significant price premium due to India’s 100% import tariff on electric vehicles. The company is targeting India’s niche EV segment, which represents only about 5% of total vehicle sales in the world’s third-largest automotive market.

Since beginning deliveries in September, Tesla has sold just over 100 Model Y units in India, according to government registration data. This places Tesla in the premium segment of a market where most cars sold are priced below $22,000.

Competitive Landscape and Expansion

In India’s evolving electric vehicle space, Tesla faces competition from domestic manufacturers like and , as well as global players including SAIC Motor’s Indian unit and Vietnamese EV maker VinFast Auto.

The company is gradually establishing its charging infrastructure, with supercharger network rollout beginning in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram. Agarwal, who previously headed Lamborghini’s India operations, brings luxury automotive experience to Tesla’s market development efforts.