Chicago, Illinois, USA: Tesla has marked a major milestone in India with the first official delivery of its Model Y. The handover took place at the newly opened Tesla Experience Centre located in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai.
The electric SUV was delivered to Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who became the first customer in India to receive a Tesla vehicle directly from the company’s authorized outlet. Sarnaik had booked his Model Y shortly after Tesla inaugurated its Mumbai showroom in July, and the vehicle was put on display at the BKC centre before delivery.
During the event, the Shiv Sena leader highlighted that his purchase represented more than just personal choice—it symbolized the state’s vision for a cleaner and greener future. “I chose Tesla not only for my own use but to inspire citizens, particularly the youth, about the importance of electric mobility. I plan to gift this car to my grandson as a way to raise awareness about sustainable transportation at an early stage,” Sarnaik said.
He also mentioned that Maharashtra has rolled out multiple incentives to encourage EV adoption, including toll exemptions on the Atal Setu and the Samriddhi Expressway. Additionally, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is preparing to introduce around 5,000 electric buses to strengthen the state’s green transport initiatives.
As for the Tesla Model Y, the SUV is available in two configurations in India. The Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) variant comes with a 60kWh LFP battery and delivers a WLTP-rated range of up to 500 km. The Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive (LR RWD) version features a larger battery that pushes the range up to 622 km. Both variants currently come with a single-motor setup but still offer impressive performance—0 to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds for the RWD and 5.6 seconds for the LR RWD. The top speed for both versions is 201 kmph.
