Tesla is set to possibly receive a reduction in India’s import duties under the condition that it plans to manufacture cars in the country, government officials said.
For years, Tesla has attempted to enter India as a domestic carmaker to supply its electric vehicles to potential customers in the Indian market. Upon the request of the company’s fans, CEO Elon Musk stated in late 2020 that the company would begin making an entrance. It was just unclear how.
Tesla’s eventual emergence into India as a car manufacturer and sales entity has been a tumultuous road in 2021. At the beginning of the year, Tesla applied for and received two business licenses: one as a manufacturer and one for sales. However, despite receiving permission to build and sell Tesla’s popular electric cars in India, Musk was not convinced that the automaker would be successful to the point that would warrant the company to build a new manufacturing facility in India. As a result, Musk stated that he would be more comfortable testing the waters of demand by importing the company’s four all-electric models to India. If things went well, a Gigafactory would be built.
Tesla factory in Tilburg, Netherlands. (Credit: Tesla)
This brought Tesla’s executives to request import duty reductions for Tesla and other EV manufacturers in mid-July. The request cited a more appropriate import duty rate of forty percent, more reasonable than the sixty percent tax that applies to cars under $40,000 and the one hundred percent penalty applied to cars over that threshold. The request didn’t appeal to country politicians, who have held their priorities on local, domestic manufacturing. Foreign companies would have to pay to play in India, including Tesla.
Indian officials said:
“The government has made its stance against company-specific incentives clear. This also applies for one particular company requesting industrywide changes to existing policy. Over the past four years, multiple demands were made by a large US-based firm to open up the market at lower import duties as well. Now, they locally produce in India and are ramping up capacity.”
Now, high-ranking Indian government officials are reconsidering Tesla’s request, stating that the country could lower import duties if Tesla commits to manufacturing vehicles in a facility that it will build in India.
“We will be open to consider, especially if they will set up a manufacturing place here,” an official told India Today.
The official added that this would not apply to Tesla specifically but to any foreign EV company that wanted to receive reduced import duties on its vehicles.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with tips! Email us at tips@teslarati.com, or you can email me directly at joey@teslarati.com.
Elon Musk
Tesla officially launches Robotaxi service with no driver
Tesla launches its driverless Robotaxi in Austin, marking the first time the company has offered its ride-hailing service anywhere in the world.
Tesla has officially launched its Robotaxi service platform with no driver in Austin, Texas. This is the first time Tesla has allowed driverless Robotaxis to pick up members of the public and take them around via the ride-sharing service the company has been developing for several years.
Teslarati had a first-hand look at the launch of the Robotaxi service in Austin, as we are part of the Early Access group, which is a limited group of people that will be able to hail a driverless Model Y in the geofenced area in Texas.
The Robotaxi platform is currently geofenced in a small portion of South Austin. It is roughly thirty minutes from end to end, and Tesla’s strategy is prioritizing safety through a number of safeguards that are implemented in this early program.
There is a fixed price of just $4.20 for any ride, regardless of duration, at this time. This will not always be the case, however. When a wider customer base is allowed to hail Robotaxis, ride fares will vary on things like travel distance, length of trip, and potentially time of day.
Here’s one of the first videos of Tesla Robotaxi ride
🎥: @BLKMDL3 https://t.co/LbVLoLtFGQ pic.twitter.com/PUQIqCRLQo
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 22, 2025
The first rides kicked off at around 2 p.m. local time in Austin. They are confined to the back row of the Model Y, while a Tesla safety monitor sits in the passenger seat. Passengers will have their personal media and streaming settings available to them as the car will sync with their driver profiles.
Rides are requested through a Robotaxi addition on the regular Tesla iOS app:
🚨 Here’s our FIRST LOOK at the Tesla Robotaxi app! pic.twitter.com/kuEqP4n1SS
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 22, 2025
The safety monitor is only there to ensure things go smoothly with each ride. They do not have pedals or a steering wheel on their side. The car is doing everything during these Robotaxi rides.
The big takeaway from Robotaxi’s launch is that Tesla will begin generating additional revenue through this new stream. As concerns over demand and annual growth rate continue to take focus from doubters, Tesla’s continuous rollout of the Robotaxi fleet will expand potential revenue opportunities, potentially creating billions upon trillions of dollars in value.
This is something Tesla permabulls like Cathie Wood of ARK Invest and Dan Ives of Wedbush have talked about for years: the launch of a driverless Robotaxi fleet that generates new income streams for Tesla.
Elon Musk
First Look at Tesla’s Robotaxi App: features, design, and more
Tesla is using a Robotaxi section of its normal smartphone application to enable access to driverless vehicles roaming around Austin.
Tesla has officially launched the Robotaxi platform to a limited number of people, giving them the ability to ask for a ride from a driverless Model Y in Austin, Texas. But how do you hail a ride?
Through the Tesla Robotaxi app, which officially launched on June 22 as the company initiated the first rides for non-employees, people can request rides from driverless cars that are traveling around Austin. Teslarati gained access to the app as we are members of the Early Access Rider program.
There are only a very limited number of vehicles operating within the fleet currently, as Tesla has said the number is between 10 and 20 vehicles.
Tesla is using a Robotaxi section of its iOS smartphone app for the launch, confirming what the company said prior to the program’s maiden voyage: there would not be a separate app for the Robotaxi.
First Look at the Robotaxi App
The Tesla Robotaxi app, similar to the official Tesla App, features a simple interface that should be familiar to anyone who has used a ride-sharing app in the past. Downloading the app brings users to a sign-in page, which features a Tesla Model Y Robotaxi as a header image. Users can then log in or create an account to access the service.
A Clean, Simple UI
Upon logging in, users are presented with a clean user interface that allows them to select a destination and pickup point. Upon booking, users are provided with a real-time update on when their Robotaxi will arrive. Users could also select some settings for their upcoming ride, such as their preferred temperature in the cabin.
Smart Suggestions
If there is one evident thing about Tesla’s Robotaxi App, it is the fact that it is smart and designed to make driverless ride sharing services feel as normal as possible. While waiting for their ride, customers are presented with a number of tips that should help them understand their robotaxi better.
These include tips on how to use the Model Y’s door handles, as well as information about the vehicle’s light signals. The app also includes smart suggestions on destinations that riders can visit using their Robotaxi. These include cafes, restaurants, parks, shopping centers, and other pertinent locations.
Cybercab Theme
Another thing that is evident with the Robotaxi App is its Cybercab-inspired color theme. This is evident from the login page, which already features the golden hues of the dedicated two-seater autonomous car. The golden Cybercab color theme is used to great effect inside the app itself as well.
No Tips, at Least for Now
As observed by Tesla owner-enthusiast @BLKMDL3, Tesla is not accepting anything more than the service’s flat $4.20 rate per ride for now. If customers wish to leave a tip for the service, they would be presented with a page featuring Tesla’s hedgehog mascot saying “Just Kidding.”
Tips will likely be an option in the future, but for this stage of the Robotaxi rollout, it appears that the service really will follow a flat rate system.
News
Watch Tesla’s first driverless public Robotaxi rides in Texas
Tesla’s first driverless Robotaxi rides for non-employees are starting with the first drives beginning today.
Tesla has finally launched its Robotaxi platform to members of the public for the first time in Austin, Texas.
The Tesla Robotaxi platform is a driverless ride-hailing service that will enable people to use their cars for passive income as they will ride around, find riders, and drive them to their destinations in exchange for money. For right now, Tesla is using company vehicles, the Model Y specifically, and has opened up rides to a small number of people who are a part of the Early Access Program.
Teslarati is a member of the Early Access Program, as we were invited to Austin for the launch. We have gained access to Tesla’s new Robotaxi app, which lies within the main Tesla iOS app, and we are able to use the Robotaxi fleet during the Early Access Program.
The first rides are already occurring as Tesla launched the platform at around noon local time in Austin on Sunday:
EXCLUSIVE: First Tesla Robotaxi Rides Ever! https://t.co/13ldQtIn07— Herbert Ong (@herbertong) June 22, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: First Tesla Robotaxi Rides Ever! https://t.co/FrQ69b2QKO— Ale𝕏andra Merz 🇺🇲 (@TeslaBoomerMama) June 22, 2025
The video shows that Tesla’s initial Robotaxi rides are being quite cautious. Currently, the Robotaxis can only travel within a geofenced portion of Austin. This area will eventually be expanded.
For the time being, Tesla is keeping a safety rider in the vehicles with occupants, but they do not take up the driver’s seat. Instead, they are sitting in the passenger’s seat. This is simply a safety precaution that Tesla is using to keep Early Access riders safe, although there are ways riders can alert Tesla of any issues.
In the initial communication Tesla sent to members of the Early Access Rider program, the company said the Cabin Camera would be deactivated for the duration of their rides, but can be used if the rider needs support. Additionally, the in-cabin microphone will be deactivated, but can also be used to get in contact with support if there are any issues during the ride.
We have seen a variety of different Robotaxis rolling around Austin for the past several weeks. The company has been testing the vehicles in a very limited way for the time being, and it only has between 15 and 20 Robotaxis in the city for the launch. This number will slowly grow over time.
Tesla officially launches Robotaxi service with no driver
First Look at Tesla’s Robotaxi App: features, design, and more
Watch Tesla’s first driverless public Robotaxi rides in Texas
-
News2 weeks agoI took a Tesla Cybertruck weekend Demo Drive – Here’s what I learned
-
Elon Musk2 weeks agoTesla tops Cathie Wood’s stock picks, predicts $2,600 surge
-
News2 weeks agoFirst Tesla driverless robotaxi spotted in the wild in Austin, TX
-
Elon Musk2 weeks agoX account with 184 followers inadvertently saves US space program amid Musk-Trump row
-
Elon Musk2 weeks agoTesla CEO Elon Musk reveals new details about Robotaxi rollout
-
Elon Musk2 weeks agoTesla sues former Optimus engineer for stealing trade secrets
-
News1 week agoSpaceX produces its 10 millionth Starlink kit
-
News1 week agoTesla Robotaxi just got a big benefit from the U.S. government