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| 테슬라. (사진=연합뉴스) |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Tesla has officially entered the Indian market, the world’s third-largest auto market, but is facing steep import tariffs that have led to significantly higher local prices.
According to the Hindustan Times on July 16, Tesla opened a new showroom in Mumbai and began accepting online orders for the Model Y. The starting price for the rear-wheel drive (RWD) version is approximately 6 million rupees (around 9.7 million KRW), while the long-range RWD model is priced at 6.8 million rupees (approximately 11 million KRW).
These prices are nearly double the cost in countries where Tesla has local production. In the U.S., the Model Y starts at $44,990 (approx. 62 million KRW), in China at 263,500 yuan (approx. 51 million KRW), and in Germany at €40,970 (approx. 74 million KRW).
The price difference is largely due to India’s high import tariffs, which currently stand at 70% for electric vehicles imported from the U.S. This has led Tesla CEO Elon Musk to consider building a manufacturing plant in India.
Musk had planned to visit India in April last year to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce a factory investment. However, the trip was canceled just days before the scheduled visit. The cancellation was reportedly influenced by the prospect of lower tariffs amid new trade talks between India and the potential second-term administration of Donald Trump in the U.S.
AlphaBIZ Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
