Tesla to Open First Showroom in Mumbai on July 15: Inside the Plans and Errol Musk's Predictions

Tesla is set to open its first showroom in India on July 15 at Mumbai’s financial hub, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). According to a Reuters report, the 4,000 square feet retail space, described as an “experience centre,” is located close to US tech giant Apple’s flagship store in the city.

The launch marks a major development in the electric vehicle (EV) giant’s long-anticipated entry into the Indian market. While Tesla does not currently plan to manufacture vehicles in the country, it is actively expanding its physical footprint as part of a broader India strategy.

In June, Tesla leased a 24,500 square feet commercial space in Mumbai’s Kurla West to serve as a vehicle service centre, located near its upcoming BKC showroom. According to real estate documents sourced by CRE Matrix, a property data analytics firm, Tesla signed a five-year lease and licence agreement with Bellissimo in City FC Mumbai I Private Ltd at Lodha Logistics Park.

The agreement includes a starting monthly rent of Rs 37.53 lakh, totalling nearly Rs 25 crore over the lease period, along with a security deposit of Rs 2.25 crore. With this, Tesla now has four commercial properties in India—an engineering hub in Pune, a registered office in Bengaluru, a temporary office near BKC, and the new service facility in Kurla.

Errol Musk, father of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, had earlier expressed confidence that Tesla would eventually set up a manufacturing plant in India. Speaking during his visit to the country in June, he said, “There has to be a Tesla manufacturing plant in India,” he asserted.

Prime Minister Modi has to look after the interests of India when it comes to Tesla, and Elon has to look after the interests of Tesla. So, between them, they will work something out that is in the best interest of both Tesla and India. I'm speaking as a private individual because Tesla is a public company. I have no doubt that there will be a Tesla manufacturing plant in India. There has to be. India is one of the most important places in the world.

The 79-year-old South African businessman also praised India’s growing global stature. “India is a world power. When you have the fourth largest GDP in the world, you're a world power, whether you like it or not. India has a very humble approach to these things, which is rather nice—nicer than other places that push themselves. I would say India has a great deal to contribute to the world,” he said.

Reacting to India’s newly announced electric vehicle policy—which reduces customs duty to 15 per cent for EVs priced above $35,000—Errol Musk said, “It's a very good idea, a very good idea. That's the way to go—not make things harder, but make things easier for people who are already working in fields to improve the world. And it's very hard for them as well. So it's not easy to come up with these new vehicles and new equipment and new cars, and so on. So one should give them every chance possible to do it.”

Errol Musk’s visit to India came in his capacity as Global Advisor to Indian company Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd. His presence underscored growing international interest in India’s transition to clean and green energy.

Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy confirmed in June that several automobile giants, including Mercedes Benz, Skoda-Volkswagen (VW), Hyundai, and Kia, had expressed interest in EV manufacturing in India. Regarding Tesla, he clarified, “We are not actually expecting (manufacturing) from them as they are only to start showrooms. They are currently not interested in manufacturing in India.”

The Indian government has already notified forward-looking guidelines under its EV policy to attract global manufacturers and position the country as a global hub for electric vehicle production.