Tesla's first year in India has been underwhelming, with just 993 registrations since deliveries began in September 2025, according to data compiled by Indian EV publication ElecTree and reported by Electrek. The first nine months produced only 428 cars, and February 2026 was the low point at 29 registrations. But September 2026 set a record at 294, more than any previous month.
The turnaround followed two moves this spring. Tesla launched the six-seat Model Y L in April at about $65,000, undercutting the five-seat Model Y Long Range it later dropped, and cut the entry-level Model Y by 15% in late May to about $53,000. In the four months after those changes, Tesla registered 565 cars — more than in its first nine months. The Model Y L accounted for 425 of those, including 81% of September's total.
Despite the improvement, Tesla remains a niche player in India. Its record month was just 0.8% of the country's EV market, and it trails BMW in luxury EV sales. The report also notes that VinFast, which assembles locally in Tamil Nadu, registered 2,963 cars in September — more than triple Tesla's 13-month total. Tesla has no factory plans in India, so it continues to rely on imports with duties of up to 110%.