Tesla has initiated the process for the homologation and certification for two of its electric cars in India, IANS reported. This is mandatory for all vehicles before they can be sold in the country.
Persons in the know said that Tesla India Motor & Energy, Tesla's Indian subsidiary, has submitted two applications for the homologation of Model Y and Model 3 cars in India.
Homologation is the process of certifying that a vehicle is roadworthy and meets the norms laid out for all vehicles manufactured in India or imported into the country.
IANS reported that Tesla had previously submitted seven applications for homologation in India, which were meant for test cars. An eighth application was recently approved.
Tesla's Elon Musk is keen to enter the Indian market but there are no plans of manufacturng in the country, yet.
Tesla has reportedly finalized an agreement to establish its first showroom in India, marking a significant step in the company's entry into the world's third-largest automobile market. The government is also considering some changes in the proposed domestic value addition (DVA) criteria and the minimum value for imported vehicles in the EV manufacturing scheme that could make it easier for Tesla to import cars at a lower duty.
The Scheme for Promoting the Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SMEC) has proposed to drastically reduce the import duty on certain electric cars to 15% from the current 70-100% for five years, subject to OEMs investing at least Rs 4,150 crore, or $500 million, to Make in India within three years and DVA conditions.