Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Becomes First Indian Politician To Test Drive Tesla Model Y
Tesla officially announced its entry into the Indian market a few years ago, and it was only recently that the brand opened its first dealership in Maharashtra. Tesla will be expanding its presence to the northern part of India as well. Their first product to be officially launched is the Tesla Model Y SUV. It has been launched at Rs 59.89 lakh, ex-showroom. After the official launch, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde was recently spotted driving this new EV.
The video has been shared by Eknath Shinde on his X profile. In this video, we see Eknath Shinde checking out a white-coloured Tesla Model Y. He is surrounded by his party followers and Tesla officials. After checking out the car from both the outside and inside, Eknath Shinde gets into the driver's seat and slowly moves the car forward.
As this is a new vehicle, we even see the Tesla staff guiding the minister to make things easier. He takes the car for a short spin and comes back. Eknath Shinde has become the first Indian politician to drive a Tesla Model Y in India.
There are many rich businessmen in India who already own a Tesla, both in India and abroad. However, this is the first time Tesla has officially entered the Indian market.
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Experience Centre in India has been opened in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. It was inaugurated in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Tesla was testing the Model 3 and Model Y in India, but they have only launched the Y crossover in the market.
The Tesla Model Y launched in India is the facelifted version, which was recently introduced internationally. The updated version of the Model Y gets slimmer LED headlights, connected LED taillights, and a very clean and classy coupe-like silhouette.
As for dimensions, the Tesla Model Y measures 4,797 mm in length, 1,982 mm in width, and 1,624 mm in height. Its ground clearance is 167 mm.
The price for the Model Y starts at Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Rear-Wheel Drive variant. If you want the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant, it will cost you around Rs 67.89 lakh, ex-showroom.
The Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive variant comes equipped with a single electric motor making 299 PS of power and 420 Nm of torque. As for the battery, it gets a 60.5 kWh pack offering a claimed range of 500 km on a full charge. It can sprint from 0–100 kmph in just 5.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 201 kmph.
The Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant also features a single electric motor, but it produces 340 PS of power and 450 Nm of torque. What makes it more expensive is the larger 75 kWh battery pack, which offers a claimed range of 622 km. It can do 0–100 kmph in 5.6 seconds and has the same top speed as the standard version.