R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, SEPT 25
Tesla is pressing harder on the Indian accelerator. The electric-vehicle maker has expanded its South India footprint with a new Tesla Experience Centre at Chennai’s Express Avenue Mall and a Tesla-approved collision centre in Poonamallee on Friday, bringing sales, test drives, vehicle deliveries, servicing and collision-repair support closer to customers across Tamil Nadu.
The Experience Centre was inaugurated by Kavita Singhania, Managing Director of Express Avenue and Sharad Agarwal, Country Head, Tesla India at Express Avenue, Royapettah in Chennai in the presence of Tesla officials and aspiring customers.
The expansion marks a move beyond simply putting Tesla vehicles on display. It builds out the ownership ecosystem around the brand, combining retail access with trained technical support, genuine parts, software-aware diagnostics and Tesla-standard collision repair.
- Express Avenue outlet brings Tesla sales, test drives and deliveries closer to Tamil Nadu customers
- Poonamallee facility adds Tesla-approved collision repair, genuine parts and trained technicians to ownership ecosystem
- 2026 Model Y Premium RWD offers up to 500-km WLTP range and 0–100 km/h in 5.9 seconds
- Six-seat Model Y L targets family buyers with up to 681-km WLTP range and 2,539-litre cargo capacity
- OTA upgrades bring continuously evolving features, including Grok AI assistant in Tamil and other Indian languages
For Chennai and Tamil Nadu customers, Tesla says the new Experience Centre will enable them to experience, order and take delivery of Tesla vehicles locally.
Chennai gets Tesla’s retail-to-repair ecosystem
The new Tesla Experience Centre on Pattullos Road is designed to provide local consultation, test drives and vehicle-delivery support.
At the other end of the ownership journey, the Tesla-approved collision centre in Poonamallee is equipped to undertake professional collision repair and bodywork to Tesla standards.
Tesla says the facility will provide access to genuine Tesla parts, approved repair processes and professionally trained technicians, alongside software-aware diagnostics.
The stated objective is to reduce repair-related downtime while supporting vehicle safety, performance and resale value.
The Chennai expansion therefore connects two critical aspects of EV ownership—the decision to buy and the confidence to maintain the vehicle after purchase.
Model Y Premium: 500 km range meets 5.9-second sprint
At the centre of Tesla’s Indian product push is the 2026 Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive.
The model offers 2,138 litres of storage space, seating for up to five passengers and power-folding seats designed to provide flexibility for passengers and luggage.
Its electric motors deliver 0–100 km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds, while Tesla claims a range of up to 500 km under the WLTP cycle.
In India, the Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive is priced at ₹50.89 lakh, with a stated down payment of ₹6 lakh and indicative monthly EMI starting at ₹39,990.
The combination places range, performance and everyday practicality at the heart of Tesla’s proposition as it expands its retail presence beyond its existing metropolitan footprint.
Model Y L: Tesla stretches the family formula
For larger families, Tesla is also showcasing the Model Y L, an all-wheel-drive SUV with a three-row, six-seat configuration.
Engineered around additional passenger space, the Model Y L is claimed to offer enhanced headroom, legroom and comfort, alongside up to 681 km of WLTP range.
Performance remains central to the package, with 0–100 km/h acceleration in 5.0 seconds.
Cargo capacity can extend to 2,539 litres, according to Tesla.
The Model Y L starts at ₹61.99 lakh, with a stated down payment of ₹6.50 lakh and indicative monthly EMI starting at ₹49,990.
For Tesla, the six-seat configuration also broadens the Model Y proposition from an urban EV towards a more family-oriented SUV.
Your Tesla keeps getting smarter
Tesla’s proposition extends beyond the hardware.
Both vehicles benefit from the company’s Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates, allowing new capabilities and features to be delivered without conventional workshop-based software upgrades.
Among the features highlighted by Tesla is access to Grok, the intelligent AI assistant, with support for multiple Indian languages including Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu and Kannada.
That software-led approach means the ownership experience is designed to evolve after the vehicle leaves the showroom—potentially making the car’s digital capabilities an ongoing part of the product proposition.
South India becomes a larger Tesla access map
With the Chennai Experience Centre, Tesla’s listed Indian experience locations now include:
- Tesla Experience Centre, Pattullos Road, Chennai
- Tesla Experience Centre, HITEC City, Hyderabad
- Tesla Experience Centre, Whitefield, Bengaluru
- Tesla Experience Centre, BKC, Mumbai
- Tesla Experience Centre, Aerocity, Delhi
- Tesla Center, Gurugram
Customers can schedule test drives through Tesla’s official India website or by calling 1800-203-1538.
The expansion comes with a broader message: Tesla’s Indian journey is no longer just about bringing electric vehicles to market. It is about building the infrastructure, service capability and digital ecosystem needed to make EV ownership a more complete proposition.
And in Chennai, the next lap has just begun.
