Tesla launches six-seater Model Y in India
- Tesla launched a six-seater version of the Model Y in India to attract more buyers. - The variant targets the world's third-largest car market where Tesla has struggled with tepid sales. - Unveiled April 22 to boost local sales and appeal to families and fleet buyers. (reuters.com)
Tesla has launched a six-seat Model Y L in India, widening its lineup less than a year after entering the country. (firstpost.com) The new variant went on sale April 22 at ₹61.99 lakh, or about 6.2 million rupees, and Tesla opened online orders the same day. First deliveries are scheduled for June 2026. (auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com) Tesla is pitching the Model Y L as a family vehicle with three rows and six seats, including second-row captain chairs and a power-folding third row. The company says the car has a WLTP-rated range of up to 681 kilometers and cargo space of up to 2,539 liters. (auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com) The launch comes after a slow start in India. Tesla sold 342 vehicles in the financial year ended March 2026, while India’s electric passenger-vehicle market rose 83.63% to 199,923 units, according to Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations data reported by Autocar Professional. (autocarpro.in) India is now the world’s third-largest automobile market, but Tesla is selling imported cars into a market where price still decides most purchases. Reuters reported in July 2025 that the Model Y launched in India at about $70,000 because of high import duties. (usnews.com) (business-standard.com) That pricing leaves Tesla in a narrow premium segment. Reuters reported that most cars sold in India are priced below $22,000, while the rear-wheel-drive Model Y costs roughly 6 million rupees and the long-range rear-wheel-drive version about 6.8 million rupees. (firstpost.com) Tesla is trying to offset the sticker shock by adding more charging and service capacity. The company says it has five Supercharger stations with 20 Superchargers and 14 Wall Connectors in India, and plans seven more highway stations linking cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. (auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com) The six-seater also tracks a broader shift in Indian car buying toward larger sport utility vehicles with more features. Tesla is betting that extra seats and more cabin space can win over buyers before it has any locally made, lower-priced model to sell. (firstpost.com)
