New Delhi: Tesla launched the Model Y in India in July, offering two versions, the Standard RWD and the Long Range RWD. The company has now updated the Long Range version with a higher claimed range of 661 km (WLTP), which is 39 km more than before. This improvement has been made possible by upgrading the battery from 78.1 kWh to a larger 82.4 kWh pack. However, the electric motor remains the same, producing power through the rear axle and offering a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 5.6 seconds.
The Standard RWD version continues with a 64 kWh battery and offers a claimed range of 500 km. It also uses the same 299 bhp rear-mounted electric motor as before. Apart from the battery update in the Long Range model, there are no other mechanical or design changes. Both the exterior and interior features remain unchanged, and Tesla has not made any cosmetic updates to the Model Y.
EV price update
Tesla EV price
Interestingly, Tesla has not increased the prices despite the larger battery. The Standard RWD trim is still priced at Rs 59.89 lakh, while the Long Range version costs Rs 67.89 lakh. The brand has also introduced a cheaper global version of the Model Y, though it’s not confirmed whether that model will be sold in India.
Why Tesla hasn’t performed well in India
There is no doubt that Tesla is popular globally, but its performance in the Indian market has been slow. Factors such as high import duties, unavailability of charging stations, and growing competition from Indian automakers like Tata and Mahindra have affected its sales. However, luxury EVs from Mercedes and Audi have already entered the country, offering better after-sales support and familiarity to Indian buyers. Moreover, Indians are always looking for a car which has a good after-market price, while the Tesla does not have that (at least in India).
By Ahsan Khan