The US based, electric car major, Tesla is all set to set its footsteps into the country with the recently launched Model 3. The company, however, decided to begin its global rollout in 2017.
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk in a tweet said that the company has added more countries including India to its Model 3 pre-order page. "Adding several more countries to Model 3 order page tonight. Check for details, but will include India, Brazil, SA, SK, NZ, Sing & Ireland," Musk said in a tweet.
The company has received order in whooping numbers even though it won’t available in the late next year.
The model 3 is half the price of its previous models- model S and Model X which has a base price of $70,000.
"The total number of orders for the Model 3 in the past 24 hours has now passed 115,000," said company founder Elon Musk at a presentation of the new car.
The sleek four-door sedan that can travel 215 miles on a single charge will go into production next year. It will be ready for delivery in the U.S. by late 2017 at a starting price of $35,000, before tax breaks. At current exchange rates, it amounts to Rs. 23.2 lakh in India. As per current regulations, Indians need to pay 100 per cent import duty, which would take the price tag to Rs.46.4 lakh.
Tesla is accepting a token of $1,000 for pre-orders.
Several well-heeled Indians have already gushed admiration for Tesla and Musk and joined the waiting list for the car. Among them is Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of mobile marketplace and payments company Paytm.
"I actually have been trying to get a Tesla ever since they launched a right-hand drive model," said Sharma, who describes himself as a Musk 'fanboy'.
Gaming entrepreneur Vishal Gondal and Mahesh Murthy, an early-stage investor, online fashion portal Voonik's founder Sujayath Ali and Practo founder Shashank ND were among those from the startup world who lined up for a chance to own the Model 3.
Twinkle Jain
Principal Correspondent
