Tesla anyday because its EV and it can give good competition to Mahindra and Tata in the same segment that are local manufactures. India does need foreign investment and participation to optimal level. Whether Tesla is necessary I am not sure. But we do have some foreign brands, that adding Tesla to the list cannot hurt. In fact it can give good value for money for the Indian consumers by forcing others to update themselves. Yesterday there was news that Tesla was looking for plant locations in Maharashtra. Its better than selling 100% imported cars in India. No worries about tariffs. High end customers in India do not bother. Voting for Tesla only because it is environment friendly. It may not fit the middle class budget but there is a huge market in India for this kind of premium automobiles. If they have long term plans, they must come to India, not otherwise. As someone put it, India is not a car country – rather motorbike country. But I have relatives and friends who will lap up Tesla from Chennai whatever the price. Business community people. We the regular salaried class just can’t afford the luxury.
Presently carless, we are looking for a hybrid though for our next. Prefer Tata or Mahindra because they are easily serviceable in the country. For highways in India, Mahindra and Tata are the best with proven track record. Use local steel. Honda, Hyundai, MG etc., have carved their own space in Indian car market. I am sure, Tesla too will. I don’t have the car fetish. Just something comfy and parkable in our street will do for me! We of all things look at the turning radial! Just watched a Tesla in Doha for the first time on our way to airport. Did not even imagine in my dreams even then that Tesla would make a foray into India. It looked huge on Doha roads like a boat! Its just 2 weeks back! Never in Indian history foreign investments happened so fast, to my knowledge! Tesla is win-win for both America and India, in case they are to enter India.
Pollution in India is mainly due to stubble burning. Stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab is the reason for Delhi air pollution. 2030 is our deadline to go electric or hybrid totally I guess. So its a wise move to have Tesla EV in India. Water pollution is a different thing already.
Hyundai made in India have an export market. In the long run, this is a distinct possibility for Tesla. May be they will be in India forever like Suzuki and Honda. While at it, is it even possible for Mahindra or Tata or Tesla to make an EV within 15 lac rupees budget? I know its asking for too much! Hopefully Tata can make it for us. I am saying this because this is our maximum budget ceiling for our next car! If they can, they will be runaway success even with the burgeoning middle class. Even in Chennai, we have the 2 or 3 car owning middle class families mostly.
I got this from Google:
* In 2022, India exported $6.68B in Cars. The main destinations of India exports on Cars were South Africa ($1.24B), Mexico ($941M), Saudi Arabia ($579M), United Arab Emirates ($400M), and Chile ($355M).
*Leading the Made-in-India export vehicle charge is the PV market leader Maruti Suzuki India. Between April and December 2024, the company has shipped 245,642 vehicles, up 21% YoY (April-December 2023: 202,786).
*Indian car export to the US: Mahindra, the only brand.
They say India is not a car country. Our highway network is good but in-city roads are pretty bad. Luxury cars have scope only outside city limits. Yet look at what stats reveal: This stat is from the link from below. This is November 2024 figure alone which is festival season in India. A total of 351,592 cars got sold last November in India. Festival season in India peaks with Ganesh Chaturti, Navratri and Diwali – the three grandest Hindu festivals. Car sales are maximum at this time.
F35 not advisable. Or India must take her time to study the pros and cons. The next US govt if it is to be Democratic, won’t cooperate with intelligence. Won’t even deliver on time and would go back on the agreement. I don’t know specifics but is it true that you need a daily password for F35. I am also aware that never will a Democratic govt offer F series to India. This is rarest of rare chance. Its also expensive and may burn a hole in India’s pocket. May India take her time to decide on that.
I welcome anything that is green energy into India. We want less pollution, less damage to environment and least usage of fossil fuels.
vijiravindran's 