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Tesla benchmarks cars in India, but it’s not time to get excited quite yet
Tesla is benchmarking cars in India, and while there is plenty of room for us to get excited based on recent developments about the potential for market entry, there are some reservations that should keep enthusiasm at bay.
There have been discussions between Tesla and India for years, as CEO Elon Musk and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for the first time in 2016. Modi, who made his way to Tesla’s Fremont Factory, has had regular discussions with both Musk and other Tesla executives since then. Other government officials have also been around the talks, hoping to finally land on a deal that would bring Tesla to the country.
This year, things have intensified. Last week, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles were spotted being benchmarked in India.
A Tesla Model Y Long Range⚡ with a big dent has been spotted at ‘Mahindra’ testing facility in Pune!!@Tesla you have the opportunity to do some funny things here?.
? : Carversal pic.twitter.com/UJPiutsBtw
— Tesla Club India® (@TeslaClubIN) August 20, 2023
White Tesla Model 3 Long Range spotted again after a long time⚡️.
Charging at Tata Power Charger at IOCL, Agarkar Nagar, Pune.
? : Motoring World –https://t.co/mVUHh7YpmR pic.twitter.com/Zovqh1gXKZ
— Tesla Club India® (@TeslaClubIN) August 18, 2023
Testing has occurred previously for the automaker in India.
In mid-June 2021, Tesla had numerous Model 3 units in India for testing, according to local sources. Vehicles were there so they could obtain approval from the Automotive Research Association of India, also known as ARAI.
Ultimately, these tests fell short of establishing Tesla’s market entry, and not because they were not compliant. Tesla and India had still felt differences in terms of what was reasonable for the automaker’s requests for a reduction in import duties, which would double the price of its vehicles.
India was not interested in having Tesla test demand by importing cars from China. The country’s government has funneled billions into the Made in India campaign, which emphasizes the importance of domestic manufacturing across nearly all sectors to help support local industry and the economy.
Tesla’s ‘challenges’ with India gov’t halt potential rescue of $27B manufacturing initiative
But based on meetings earlier this year between Musk and Modi, these differences may have been pushed aside, and things are getting more serious than ever before.
Tesla is already in talks to open a factory in India that would produce a $24,000 mass-market vehicle, some reports have indicated.
Additionally, Musk has said he is “confident Tesla will be in India and that he is hopeful “we’ll be able to announce something in the not-too-distant future.”
Tesla’s next Gigafactory location unknown, but all signs point toward India
Although it seems likely Tesla will finally make its entry in India at some point in the near future, there is no indication that it is solidified as of yet.
However, even the future rivals of Tesla are already acknowledging the automaker is arriving, and they are preparing to duel with it as EV competition continues to ramp significantly.
Earlier this month, Mahindra Group CEO Anish Shah said:
“Tesla or anyone else coming in does not faze us. At one point, Mahindra was written off when all the global majors were coming into India. Today, we continue to have the number one market share in SUVs from a revenue standpoint.”
If anything is to come from the potential partnership between India and Tesla, which would see the EV maker’s vehicles finally arrive, the automaker stands to gain a new region of potential sales, which is one of the reasons Baird recommended Tesla in its “Best Ideas” list.
Tesla has established some office space in India as well, marking another indication that market entrance is potentially imminent.
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Tesla has updated its Robotaxi app so riders can pick which vehicle they want before they book. The latest in-app screens now show two options side by side: the two-seat Cybercab and the four-seat Model Y.
A screenshot circulating Thursday shows the change in practice. In Austin, a rider could choose a gold Cybercab for two people or a Model Y for four. Tesla’s updated description calls Cybercab “our first purpose-built autonomous vehicle,” designed for safety, accessibility, and comfort, and says the lineup is available only through the Robotaxi app.
Tesla has updated their Robotaxi page in the App Store. You’ll be able to select if you want a Cybercab or Model Y Robotaxi.
“Our Robotaxi vehicle lineup now includes Cybercab, our first purpose-built autonomous vehicle. Designed for safety, accessibility and comfort, Cybercab… pic.twitter.com/Jff4klilDr
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 3, 2026
The distinction is more than cosmetic, and it’s important to note that Robotaxi refers to the platform, while Cybercab refers to a vehicle.
Model Y Robotaxis have carried the service since it opened in Austin in mid-2025 and later expanded to Dallas, Houston, and parts of Florida. Those vehicles are converted production SUVs that still have steering wheels and pedals.
Cybercab is different. It has no driver controls, butterfly doors, a low seat height meant to work with wheelchairs, extra trunk space for assistive devices, and braille on the handles. Tesla has registered dozens of the two-seaters with Texas regulators in the days leading up to its September 3 Austin event.
Giving riders a choice lets Tesla match the vehicle to the trip. Most rides involve one or two people, which is where Cybercab is meant to be cheaper and more efficient to operate. Groups of three or four, or anyone who needs more space, can still request a Model Y.
The same app handles booking, payment, cabin settings, and, on Cybercab, features such as phone-based door opening and in-cabin voice controls.
The update does not mean every city suddenly has both cars available. Cybercab support is listed for Austin first, and the purpose-built fleet is still small compared with the existing Model Y roster. Even so, the app change marks a shift from a single-vehicle pilot to a mixed fleet.
Riders can now choose between the compact, purpose-built robotaxi and the familiar SUV that launched the service.
Tesla Cybercab sightings are broadening far and wide, well outside of downtown Austin, Texas, with autonomy in focus as the company plans to launch the all-electric, two-seater this evening in the Lone Star State.
Tesla is set to launch Cybercab to a small group of people this evening in a dedicated event in Austin, Texas. Public details on the event are relatively slim.
However, Tesla’s focus on Cybercab falls well outside of the downtown Austin area and is expanding well across the United States as things continue to move quickly with the company’s autonomous efforts in 2026. Today, various images of Cybercab fleets in interesting locations have started to circulate.
The most notable is a fleet of at least 20 Cybercabs at Miami International Airport in Florida. Spotted last night, the fleet is expansive and is indicative of a looming release of Cybercabs once regulatory boxes are checked off.
Tesla has already been operating the Robotaxi platform in Miami for several months, but this Cybercab fleet at the airport could be joining the ride-hailing platform as approvals arrive:
20+ Cybercabs spotted near Miami international airport. pic.twitter.com/ORLsw8yFhf
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 3, 2026
Another fleet of Cybercabs was spotted at the Devon, PA showroom just outside of Philadelphia. We have seen several Cybercab units testing around the Philadelphia Metro Area, which is interesting considering Tesla does not have any active Robotaxi geofence in Pennsylvania.
Cybercab at the Devon location in PA has multiplied over the weekend. Seeing a few more test vehicles in the lot 👀 pic.twitter.com/DhJT4P1EkU
— Billy (@billykyle) August 22, 2026
Philadelphia would be an ideal location to test ride-hailing due to its dense tourist population, large, sprawling city layout, and to compete with other ride-hailing companies that operate in the city.
Expansive fleets of Cybercabs will be popping up in and around major cities throughout the rest of the year, if we were betting on it. Tesla has made it obvious that the Cybercab rollout will be aggressive and fast-paced, but within reason. Tesla is still prioritizing safety, so these testing phases will likely go on for some period of time before more members of the public are able to snag a Cybercab for a personal chariot.
The Tesla Model Y L is arguably the most hyped trim of the all-electric crossover, other than the Performance configuration that comes with white-knuckle speed and sports car-level handling.
However, it is not all perfect. Tesla owners in China who took delivery of the Model Y L, denoted with an L to highlight its longer wheelbase, are experiencing what they are referring to as “collapsing” of the rear wheels, as suspension issues appear to be an issue with some of the builds.
🚨 Model Y L owners in China report rear suspension sag
• Six-seat long-wheelbase Y. Shanghai. On sale since August 2025
• Owners say the rear tire-to-arch gap shrinks after mileage or a full load. Some cases after about 9,000 km loaded. Others near 30,000 km
• Tesla service… pic.twitter.com/Lr6i5Tbi07— Joe Hansen (@joehansen) September 1, 2026
The gap between the wheel arch and tire has narrowed to the point that “not even a single finger” could fit, according to a report from Car News China. The failures are not tied to a specific mileage, as one owner said that after just 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles), they noticed the suspension issue when their car was fully loaded.
Another one had the issue at 30,000 kilometers (18,640 miles) and noticed that the wheel gap shrank to two fingers, so not as drastic as the person who reported a similar issue at 9,000 km.
Tesla Model Y L is gaining momentum in China’s premium segment
Along with the visual recognition of the issue, others are saying the sagging is causing abnormal wear on the inside of the tires. Extra weight and instant torque already provide additional stress on the tires in electric vehicles during normal operation, so it is no surprise that this is another complaint.
There has been no recall issued by Tesla, and the company has not yet publicly acknowledged the issue.
Some are suggesting that owners use a “finger test” to self-diagnose whether there is an issue with the suspension. There should be four fingers between the tire and the wheel well; anything less than that starts to get dicey.
Tesla Robotaxi riders will face the best dilemma when booking a ride
Tesla Cybercab sightings broaden well outside of Austin with autonomy in focus
