Tesla launches new six-seater Model Y in India

BusinessInternationalTesla launches new six-seater Model Y in IndiaBy Reuters -Apr 22, 2026US electric vehicle maker ‌Tesla has launched a six-seater version of its best-selling Model Y in India as it tries to attract buyers in the world’s third-largest car market where it has struggled to grow sales. Tesla has sold just 350 Model Ys in India since starting deliveries in ​September, government data showed, with rivals including BYD, Mercedes-Benz and BMW far outselling the U.S. company over the ​same period. Its imported Model Y attracts a steep 100% import tariff, a level that chief Elon ⁠Musk has often criticised, meaning Tesla’s cars are priced much higher in India than in other markets. With the Model ​Y L, Tesla aims to tap a wider customer base as Indian buyers, especially families, increasingly turn to larger, premium ​vehicles equipped with touchscreen displays and sunroofs. This shift has helped propel demand for three-row SUVs in India, a segment currently dominated by Toyota Motor and Suzuki Motor. The Model Y L, which has a longer driving range of 681 kilometers (423 miles), will be priced ​at about 6.2 million rupees, equivalent to $66,000. That is only slightly above the $64,000 price tag on the Model Y, ​but still far above a market where most cars are priced below $22,000. Tesla introduced the Model Y L in China last year at ‌a ⁠starting price of 339,000 yuan ($49,700). Isabel Fan, a senior director at Tesla, told reporters at the vehicle’s launch event in Mumbai on Wednesday that the company has mass-market models and it wants to increase accessibility. “We continue to work on affordability,” she said. Tesla is developing a smaller, cheaper SUV after scrapping a highly anticipated low-cost EV project in 2024 to focus on ​robotaxis and humanoid robots, Reuters ​reported this month. While the ⁠carmaker is aiming for full self-driving autonomy for all its models, there is a realisation that many global markets, including India, won’t see meaningful ado...