3 BIG EV Launches Tomorrow From Tesla, Vinfast And Kia: All You Need To Know
India's automotive landscape is set to witness the launch of three highly-anticipated electric vehicles on July 15th. Kia, Vinfast and Elon Musk's prestigious electric car brand Tesla will launch new models tomorrow. The occasion will also mark the market entry of Vinfast and Tesla. Let's take a closer look at what's coming...
Tesla Model Y
Putting an end to long anticipations, Tesla is finally set to enter the booming Indian EV market. The American company will open its first showroom in the country tomorrow. The dealership will open in Mumbai' Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Deliveries could commence during the upcoming festive season.
Tesla first expressed interest in the Indian market in 2016, but the actual entry follows a slew of negotiations with the government, policy amendments and corporate battles. It thus stands extra special.
The Model Y will be the first Tesla to go on sale in India. The carmaker seems to be targeting the luxury EV space, and not likely aspiring to be a volume player. The experience centre in Mumbai is placed in a luxury zone (the rent for the space alone is Rs 37.5 lakh per month for the next 5 years!) and the same is a clear indicator of its possible top-down strategy.
Previous sightings had shown the pre-facelift Model Y and Model 3 being evaluated for India. It has now been confirmed that the carmaker will launch the facelifted models here. The Model Y could likely have its ex-showroom price in the ballpark of 70 lakh rupees and will be brought as CBUs. We expect the official lineup announcement and strategy details to commence tomorrow.
Going by speculations, the company will first launch the RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive) guise of Model Y in India. The first batch will likely be shipped in from China.
The facelifted Model Y is called 'Juniper' internally. It packs significant upgrades over the pre-facelift model, and even has a premium in overall length. Major restyling has gone into it and the design at large is now more aerodynamic.
The cabin also has significant changes. It gets a central 15.5-inch touchscreen with updated OS, new upholstery, OTA support, seat ventilation and rear passenger touchscreen among various other features. These will likely make an appearance on the India-spec as well.
The facelifted model Y (in global markets) is claimed to offer a range of 719km and 662km on the Long Range AWD and RWD versions respectively. The specifications and range claims of the India-spec remains unknown at the moment.
Like they do in the global space, Tesla India will likely operate a direct-to-customer model. The dealerships including the one that's being inaugurated tomorrow, will act as brand experience centres.
Vinfast VF6 And VF7
The Vietnamese car brand Vinfast is the second one to enter India tomorrow. We have recently been hearing a lot around this brand, its products and India strategies. The VF6 and VF7 will be the first Vinfasts to go on sale in India. The carmaker will start accepting pre-bookings for these electric SUVs on July 15, 2025. This will also mark their India-entry.
There has been no word about the possible prices yet. All we can do now, is speculate. The VF6 will likely go against the MG Windsor EV Pro and Hyundai Creta Electric. In that case, the prices could be comparable to those of these vehicles. It will come equipped with an all-electric powertrain that produces 200 bhp and 310 Nm of torque. The battery pack is likely to be a 59.6 kWh unit.
The VF7 will sit above the C-EV segment. It will house a larger 75.3 kWh battery pack with a real-world range of 450 km per charge. Both vehicles will have clean cabin designs and almost all desirable features. We will get to know more about these EVs and the carmaker's India-strategy tomorrow.
Kia Carens Clavis EV
Kia India will launch its first mass-market EV tomorrow- the Carens Clavis EV. As the name suggests, this three-row electric vehicle will be based on the Carens Clavis that recently went on sale in the country. As confirmed by the carmaker, this electric MPV will have a claimed range of 490 km per charge.
It will have a lot in common with the petrol/diesel Clavis, on the design front. The Exterior styling is almost identical, with the only differentiating elements being the aero-optimized wheels, restyled bumpers and a nose-mounted charger port. The Clavis EV will be underpinned by the same platform as the Creta Electric and will likely feature identical powertrains as well. We will get to know more about this product and Kia's plans with it, tomorrow.