Tesla has debuted the Model Y in India for a sticker price of ₹59.89 lakh, but the American EV major is up against stiff competition from local electric SUVs. It has stiff competition in the form of the Mahindra BE 6, XEV 9E and Tata Harrier EV, all of which offer greater range for much less cash.
Tesla Model Y: World-class Brand, Premium Pricing
Tesla Model Y launch in India: Costing ₹59.89 lakh for the Standard and ₹67.89 lakh for the Long Range, the Tesla Model Y was welcomed into the Indian EV segment. The Standard model offers a quoted 500 km of WLTP range and 0-100 kmph acceleration in 5.9 seconds, with the Long Range providing 622 km with 5.6s acceleration.
Tesla’s steep pricing follows the CBU import operation from the Shanghai Gigafactory, hence import duties are quite substantial and it’s been claimed that it is one of the most expensive markets in the world for the Model Y. The Standard model will be delivered from Q3 2025, while the Long Model variant starts getting delivered October 2025.
Mahindra’s Twin Electric Assault
BE 6: Compact Electric Performance
The (base variant) Mahindra BE 6 it self is armed with some impressive specs, all that with a, on-road cost of ₹18.90 lakh l(as much as or approximately) ess than half what the Tesla (S 75) costs. This small electric SUV comes with 79 kWh battery pack offering 683 km range and 282 bhp power with 380 Nm torque. The BE 6 goes from 0 to 100 kmph in 6.7 s and it is compatible with 180 kW DC fast charging.
XEV 9E: Premium Electric SUV
Meanwhile, the bigger XEV 9E features the BE 6’s same powertrain (similar 79 kWh battery with 282 bhp), but it extends 656 km with its body size of 4,789mm. XEV 9E can go from 0 to 100 kmph in 6.8 seconds and has a boot space of 663 litres.
Single speed automatic transmission and single rear wheel drive are standard on both Mahindra models, as is compatibility for 20 minute DC fast charging from 20-80 percent.
Tata Harrier EV: All-Wheel Drive Beastling
Priced from ₹21.49 lakh, the Tata Harrier EV comes with 65 kWh and 75 kWh dual battery options. The top end version will offer you 390 bhp dual motors all-wheel drive across a range of 504 Nm torque and a 0-100 kmph in 6.3 seconds.
The 75 kWh version of the Harrier EV gets 622 km of range and this version also supports 120 kW DC fast charge which can charge 20-80 percent in 25 minutes. The RWD variant has a kerb weight of 2,235 kg, while the AWD variant weighs 2,336 kg.
Range and Performance Comparison
| Model | Price (₹ Lakh) | Range (km) | Power (bhp) | 0-100 kmph (sec) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y Standard | 59.89 | 500 | – | 5.9 |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | 67.89 | 622 | – | 5.6 |
| Mahindra BE 6 | 18.90 | 683 | 282 | 6.7 |
| Mahindra XEV 9E | – | 656 | 282 | 6.8 |
| Tata Harrier EV | 21.49-30.23 | 622 | 390 | 6.3 |
Market Positioning
The prices discrepancy illustrates the classic premium versus value proposition battle. Tesla’s Model Y sells at three times the price of its Indian competition, but in some cases has similar or even worse specifications. The Mahindra BE 6 range also outstrips Tesla’s figures of 683 km, compared with what the Model Y can offer of maximum of 622 km.
But Tesla offers the sort of brand recognition accepted around the world, an established Supercharger network, and over-the-air updates that Indian carmakers are still working on. The Model Y’s fit and finish and software integration are trailblazing within the EV market.
Read Also: Toyota Aqua Hybrid Electric Spied Testing In Delhi: India Launch Uncertain
Charging Infrastructure Reality Check
Tesla is setting up a charging network in India, which makes their Supercharger network advantage moot in that country. Indian rivals already gain from prevalent CCS-II charging infrastructure and all three models support DC fast charging over 120 kW.
The Tata Harrier EV’s (up to) 120 kW DC charging and the 180 kW of both the Mahindras do actually outstrip the output of a lot of current charging location infrastructure in India, indicating a bit of future proofing.
The Verdict: Price vs Premium
Tesla’s launch of the Model Y in India is a major milestone for the country’s EV market. Make no mistake—despite Tesla’s powerful global brand, the American heavyweight is in for a tough fight against cheaper, feature-loaded Indian counterparts. Where the Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9E boast better range at a fraction of the Tesla’s cost, the Tata Harrier EV also brings all-wheel drive, which Tesla misses in India at present.
Whether Tesla India strategy will pay off or not will be contingent upon whether it can establish a premium identity and brand for itself to justify the large price premium over capable domestic competitors, which may match or surpass it in technical specs.