(Image source from: Agencies)
Reports from Reuters on July 11, 2025, say that Tesla, Elon Musk's electric car business, plans to open its initial store, called an “experience centre,” in Mumbai on July 15. Reuters had earlier mentioned that the store will be in the Maker Maxity building, which is in the busy Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) close to Mumbai's airport. The EV company has been hiring more workers and had been searching for store locations in Mumbai and New Delhi, India's capital, as it gets ready to sell in South Asia. This opening happens as India and the US are having ongoing trade discussions. Tesla has made a five-year rental agreement starting on February 16, 2025, and will pay about $446,000 (around Rs 38,872,030) for the first year for a space of 4,003 square feet (372 square meters), which is about the size of a basketball court, according to the store registration papers. The rent should increase by five percent each year, reaching about $542,000 in the fifth year, according to the lease document that the analytics company CRE Matrix shared with the news source.
The American company is also expected to open another store in New Delhi (Aerocity) after Mumbai. Tesla has been seeking store locations in India since late last year to start selling cars in the world's third-biggest car market, after delaying its plans to enter the market in 2022.
Tesla India is finally launching on July 15th with showroom opening in BKC, Mumbai ⚡
— Tesla Club India® (@TeslaClubIN) July 11, 2025
All @Tesla 2016 Indian reservation holders should receive the invite before media does @elonmusk !! pic.twitter.com/j4hvvVxEDJ
The US-based electric vehicle maker has had problems for many years with local factory investments, rules, and high import taxes, which made people question whether Tesla would enter the Indian market. Former US President Donald Trump previously said that it would be “unfair” to the US if Tesla built a factory in India to avoid the country’s taxes. He told Fox News that he didn't like India’s high taxes on imported cars, which he talked about with Prime Minister Modi during his visit to the US.
Trump said, “Every country in the world takes advantage of us, and they do it with tariffs... For example, it is nearly impossible to sell a car in India.” Musk has often spoken out against India’s high import taxes, which are around 100% on electric vehicles, saying that these taxes are meant to help local manufacturers like Tata Motors in one of the world's largest car markets.
