The wait is almost over as Tesla confirmed that the company will open its first showroom in Mumbai. Tesla has secured a 4000 sq ft commercial space in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai and has finalized a 5-year lease agreement. According to a report by Times of India, the Elon Musk-led EV maker will pay a monthly rent of around Rs 35 lakh.
Users on Reddit had a different take on this news as many slammed the company for paying rent that is far from being profitable. Is it just about price and profit? Perhaps Tesla’s move is more about making a statement, as BKC is known to be one of the most expensive commercial hubs in the world.
Redditors pour down on Tesla’s parade
Reddit users didn’t hold back in their criticism of Tesla, with many calling the rent in Mumbai unprofitable. However, some pointed out that, with costs still relatively low in India compared to other countries, the impact on Tesla might be minimal. One Redditor took a dig, suggesting that Elon Musk’s fanbase would likely cover up the cost.
Clearly, there were some users with strong opinions about Tesla and said that if the import duty is slashed from 110% to 15%, this will also apply to EV makers like BYD and MG, which make their vehicles a lot more affordable. This comment has a lot of substance and Tesla should worry about it. Many forget BYD is the world’s largest EV market and in January, the Chinese company sold more than double the vehicles as Tesla in China. BYD also become the top-selling car brand in Singapore.
From the comments, it might seem like everything’s all rainbows and sunshine for Tesla, but we’ll have to wait and see how the company actually fares once those EVs hit the showrooms.