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After years of speculations, Tesla finally starts working on an EV that could be its most suitable product for markets like India
For years, Tesla has been considering a new EV positioned below the Model 3. The company looks finally set to put that thought into action with a new Hyundai Creta Electric-sized SUV. A fresh report from Reuters says that Tesla is developing a new SUV measuring 4.28 metres in length. This would place the new SUV two segments below the Model Y, in the B-segment, still leaving Tesla without a contender in the C-segment, which is one of the largest and most competitive segments worldwide.
For a market like India, though, the new entry-level Tesla EV would be a perfect fit. Here, if launched, it would sit in the so-called ‘mid-size SUV’ segment, challenging the likes of the Tata Sierra.ev, Mahindra BE 6, Honda 0 Alpha, Hyundai Creta Electric, Maruti e Vitara, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella.
The report suggests that Tesla would develop the new EV in a manually drivable version and also a fully autonomous version. The latter could help the company grow its presence in the robotaxi space, mainly in North America and Europe.
Tesla plans to use a smaller battery compared to the Model Y and may only offer single-motor 2WD configurations to keep the costs in check. The company is targeting a weight of 1.5 tonnes, which would be another similarity to the Hyundai Creta Electric, if the model is launched in India.
There’s no word on the range yet, but given that Tesla usually ensures it stays ahead of the competition or at least matches it in this aspect, it could be targeting a figure of around 600 kilometres, as per WLTP. It is worth noting here that WLTP delivers more realistic range figures than India’s MIDC (P1+P2).
The B-segment electric SUV is in the early stages of development and may only go on sale globally in 2028-2030. Tesla will manufacture the new entry-level EV in China initially, followed by Europe and the U.S. The company could eventually bring this model to India, too, and manufacture it locally. Currently, the Model Y is the only EV Tesla offers in India. Imported as a CBU from China and priced from Rs. 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom), this model has not found much success yet.
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