India, the world’s fifth-largest automotive market, may reduce import duties on electric vehicles coming into the country as a result of lobbying efforts from America’s Tesla.
The country may lower import duties by 60% to 100% of what they currently are on EVs that cost more than $40,000 and by 40% to 60% on EVs worth less than that, two sources who asked to remain nameless told Reuters.
“We haven’t firmed up the reduction in duties yet, but there are discussions that are ongoing,” one of the officials told the outlet.
Although India is a big market, the majority of vehicles that sell there are priced at less than $20,000. Electric vehicles make up only a small proportion of total vehicle sales and luxury EVs make up an even smaller proportion of sales still.
Tesla argued that more luxury EVs might sell in India if the country reduced import duties.
“Reducing import duties is not a problem as not many EVs are imported in the country. But we need some economic gain out of that,” the official told Reuters. “We also have to balance the concerns of the domestic players.”
Indeed, Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, said on Twitter last month that an Indian factory was “quite likely” if the company was successful in its lobbying efforts.
Bids to reduce import duties on luxury vehicles have long been opposed by India’s domestic automakers. As a result, an average of just 35,000 vehicles is imported every year. Tesla’s efforts to target luxury EVs have also been supported by companies like Mercedes, Jaguar, and Audi, among others, which have their own EVs now, too.
Although India’s automakers still object to reducing the import tariffs, by and large, the government may be relenting in order to help EVs take a foothold in the nation.
If Tesla is able to succeed with imported vehicles, then a factory in India is quite likely.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2021