Tesla Model 3

Tesla, it seems, is most likely to debut in the world’s third-largest car market sometime in the near future. And, as expected, the company will start its innings here with the Model 3. Also, the rate at which manufacturers are preparing to launch its electric derivates in India, whether it’s a new contender like MG Motors or made-in-India like the Ather 450 series, Bajaj Chetak or Tata Nexon EV it probably seems that electric vehicles are here to stay.

The car you see above is Tesla’s most affordable offering, the Model 3, which is expected to be the first product from Tesla for the Indian market. By the looks of it, the Model 3 looks simple, elegant, and almost timeless. There are no sporty bits to speak of, although the design is sure to catch the fancy of someone looking for an elegant saloon. The front-end looks good with a set of full-LED headlamps and a vertical cut out for fog lamps. The absence of a grille, though, surely hints at this being an electric offering. The side is very much plain too. The large 19-inch wheels, however, look good and fill the arches very well. The roof flows in nicely towards the raised boot, giving the car a coupe-like stance.

Inside, the Tesla Model 3 is as uncluttered as it gets. The main highlight – except there’s virtually nothing else in the cabin – is the huge touchscreen mounted on the dashboard, which is the hub to control almost everything inside.

Under the hood, the international-spec Tesla Model 3 comes powered by two electric motors in total, depending on the trims or variant. The combined horsepower lies in between 283bhp to 450bhp, with power being sent to all the wheels. If you opt for a variant with the 75kWh battery pack, the Tesla can cover as much as 500km on a single charge.

Expect the Model 3 to set you back by as much as Rs. 70 lakhs if it launches as a CBU unit. Since, Tesla has zero production plants in the country, either expect the Model 3 to debut as a CBU unit or a CKD unit, with plans of a joint venture or the setup of a production plant. Either way, if it’s anything related to Tesla, it’ll be here.