Indo US Relations

[crazywithmath]

Where is the showroom? Which car has been homologized in India so far?

I see conflicting reports on whether they are producing RHD cars or not. One report says that they cancelled their plan to produce RHD cars few months back which were supposed to be produced in their German Plant.

Another report says they secretly started production of RHD cars for Indian market few months back.

Now if they really want to sell a RHD model in India then it would CBU and will attract high import duties. I don't know how much relaxation is there for CBU EVs.​

Tesla's RHD cars are probably meant for Australia.

 

[Anants]

Where is the showroom? Which car has been homologized in India so far?

I see conflicting reports on whether they are producing RHD cars or not. One report says that they cancelled their plan to produce RHD cars few months back which were supposed to be produced in their German Plant.

Another report says they secretly started production of RHD cars for Indian market few months back.

Now if they really want to sell a RHD model in India then it would CBU and will attract high import duties. I don't know how much relaxation is there for CBU EVs.​

Who knows? But if you seen any new car company trying to setup in India for first time. They try to hire dealers, train them and their staff. Here in case of tesla since they wont have dealership but company owned stores they might start hiring and training staff while they scout for locations just like Apple did.

 

[DingDong]

For a nation that claims millions of engineers and doctors development and innovation is non existent.

Defense industry is "research intensive" with slow turnaround and high risk. It requires government support, including generous funds and subsidies.

When it comes to the local production, the "customer" wants to avail the "foreign" quality at the "Indian" price. Not to forget, the impossible time-lines and abrupt change in requirements. The vendor has to make 100% investment at zero commitment from the customer. Let us not forget about the supply-chain issues either.

It is extremely hard for the defense startups to break even under the prevailing circumstances.

I have seen indigenization projects with the total sanctioned budget less than the cost of a single "imported" equipment it was supposed to replace.

 

[crazywithmath]

Who knows? But if you seen any new car company trying to setup in India for first time. They try to hire dealers, train them and their staff. Here in case of tesla since they wont have dealership but company owned stores they might start hiring and training staff while they scout for locations just like Apple did.

The broader points still stand, tbh. Their cars have not been homologized in India. No road trials either. Still no clarity over their RHD models. A 70% import tariff is still in place - destroying any competitive advantage whatsoever. Makes little sense to hire staff at such a nascent stage - they took the gormint for a ride last time out; not sure what jhumla they are engaging in this time.

 

[Anants]

The broader points still stand, tbh. Their cars have not been homologized in India. No road trials either. Still no clarity over their RHD models. A 70% import tariff is still in place - destroying any competitive advantage whatsoever. Makes little sense to hire staff at such a nascent stage - they took the gormint for a ride last time out; not sure what jhumla they are engaging in this time.

Was Toyota Mirai Homogenized - before Gadkari inducted in his personal fleet?

 

[SKC]

Was Toyota Mirai Homogenized - before Gadkari inducted in his personal fleet?

Thats a personal import or might have been donated by Toyota themselves. India is pushing hard on Hydrogen as fuel and Toyota is one player who has spent over 3 decades in Hydrogen Fuel cell technology.​

 

[crazywithmath]

Was Toyota Mirai Homogenized - before Gadkari inducted in his personal fleet?

Tesla might be willing to set up a GCC in India (a lot of major automakers maintain their GCCs in India) - in which case the hirings make sense. Else, the market for 'high end' electric cars is tiny in India rn. Heck, even the trade deals the orange man is willing to strike with us will not conclude before September and even that supposed deal is very unlikely to feature further tariff concessions for foreign automakers.

With the import tariffs still in place Tesla will be uncompetitive in Indian market - the crorepatis can purchase better stuff at prices much less than that. Tesla benefited immensely from Elmo's tall (and fake) promises, carefully crafted PR and a large number of consumers who passionately backed the early adoption of EVs despite their questionable build quality (some of the tesla models are crazy overpriced and can barely be termed 'luxury cars'). Not sure if that can be replicated in India.

Either way, let us see. Every year they publish job postings like these and then disappear.

 

[silentassassin265]

surprised that tata, mahindra and other auto lobby hasn't made a storm about it. below 30 lakhs model might actually sell quite good.

They have just 13 positions in job posting, doubt they are building anything here.
The import duty could be reduced to lower the price but even with that 30lakh pricing seems impossible

 

[crazywithmath]

@SKC @Anants

Looks like we have some clarity now;

Tesla picks showroom sites in New Delhi, Mumbai to start India sales: Sources

Tesla has finalized locations for showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai, marking a significant step towards its entry into the Indian market. These outlets, located near major airports, will span around 5,000 square feet each and showcase imported electric vehicles. This development follows Tesla...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Either way, we should not care about them selling overpriced junk until and unless the import tariffs are reduced any further. Linked articles do not mention anything about more tariff cuts, btw.

 

[SKC]

@SKC @Anants

Looks like we have some clarity now;

Tesla picks showroom sites in New Delhi, Mumbai to start India sales: Sources

Tesla has finalized locations for showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai, marking a significant step towards its entry into the Indian market. These outlets, located near major airports, will span around 5,000 square feet each and showcase imported electric vehicles. This development follows Tesla...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Either way, we should not care about them selling overpriced junk until and unless the import tariffs are reduced any further. Linked articles do not mention anything about more tariff cuts, btw.

From T-BHP:

There are still lot of "ifs and buts" and we should wait for atleast a year to find out what this supposedly $25K cars turns out to be.​

 

[ulinatheclever]

No american car company survive india for very long.

 

[Azaad]

From T-BHP:

View attachment 25530


View attachment 25532

There are still lot of "ifs and buts" and we should wait for atleast a year to find out what this supposedly $25K cars turns out to be.​

I anticipate Modi will relent on tariffs facilitating Tesla imports. Part of the jizia we're expected to pay out .

 

[Cheepek]

C

Post in thread '2024 US Presidential Elections'

Nov 6, 2024

Shameless modi, skip meeting with Trump thinking Kamal would win & now have audacity to address him "my friend".

No one has a crystal ball, the dems were on our necks. It was a pragmatic decision not to infuriate them, which I am sure Trump also understands.

• Cheepek

• 

View: https://x.com/Iyervval/status/1892040188840313278?t=C4ZixK0bPdqLEiqyhdUKNg&s=19

 

[crazywithmath]

I anticipate Modi will relent on tariffs facilitating Tesla imports. Part of the jizia we're expected to pay out .

Nah, mate. Jizya is not meant to be this expensive. Our auto exports to burgerland is not significant enough to justify such one way concessions. Would be surprised if Modi and co agree to lower duties any further - they did not mind waging a trade war over this the last time out.

 

[crazywithmath]

From T-BHP:

View attachment 25530


View attachment 25532

There are still lot of "ifs and buts" and we should wait for atleast a year to find out what this supposedly $25K cars turns out to be.​

Do not see a reason why a supposed 'luxury' carmaker would dilute their brand value by launching under US$ 25k cars. Let us see.

 

[Anants]

Do not see a reason why a supposed 'luxury' carmaker would dilute their brand value by launching under US$ 25k cars. Let us see.

He has no choice. He is getting tough competition elsewhere. His cars is in luxury category due to price and motor/battery specs but not in interior quality as seen in videos.

 

[SKC]

More Speculations on Tesla Entry into Indian Market:

 

[ezsasa]

i would read this as elmo assuming Indian market does not have electric cars.
old statement perhaps?
=====
"India is now the most populous country in the world. India should have electric cars just like every other country. It's a natural progression to provide Tesla electric vehicles in India."


View: https://x.com/cb_doge/status/1891877727688405061

 

[crazywithmath]

He has no choice. He is getting tough competition elsewhere. His cars is in luxury category due to price and motor/battery specs but not in interior quality as seen in videos.

Then that would be a major u-turn. Elmo and his buddies have always viewed tesla as a 'luxury car brand'. Overpricing their cars and inflating the stocks (with false promises) have been their hallmark.

Either way, importing cars do not make business sense in India - unless the import tariffs are drastically reduced (very unlikely, given how much this sector contributes to our GDP).

And, lowering duties set precedents - if the gormint lowers duties for american carmakers others would demand it too and might come up with reciprocal duties if left ignored. The gormint cannot just lower duties for the burgerboys and expect EU et al to take it lying down.

 

[Anants]

Then that would be a major u-turn. Elmo and his buddies have always viewed tesla as a 'luxury car brand'. Overpricing their cars and pumping the stocks making false promises have been their hallmark.

Oh he wont be first one. Remember HD had to make a 700 cc just for sake of India after they first entered haughtily as luxury lifestyle motorcycle maker. Yet they could not survive still. This time they came with Hero and I don't see them succeeding again as the competition is quite stiff in 400 to 500 cc category.