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Published: June 2, 2025
Tesla has started taking reservations for the Roadster in India, and the numbers are turning heads. The Thrust configuration carries a combined booking outlay of roughly Rs 2.50 crore, while the Performance version asks for total deposits of just over Rs 50 lakh. None of this is the final price, though. Tesla has not confirmed Indian ex-showroom rates, delivery timelines, or even the availability of every trim.
What stands out about the booking process is its two-step structure. Indian buyers need to put down Rs 5.01 lakh first, then pay a second instalment within 10 days. For the Performance Roadster, that second payment is Rs 45.05 lakh, pushing the total reservation amount to Rs 50.06 lakh. For the Thrust Roadster, the second instalment jumps to Rs 2,45,24,000. Together with the initial deposit, the full amount becomes Rs 2,50,25,000.
Tesla describes the initial Rs 5.01 lakh as fully refundable. However, a reservation only counts as final once Tesla actually receives the whole amount. If the second payment is missed within the 10-day window, the booking can be cancelled. The company also limits each customer to one Thrust reservation, and it clearly warns that thruster functionality — or the Thrust version itself — may not be offered in jurisdictions where local rules stand in the way.
Looking at the lineup, the Roadster Performance is a two-seater with active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system. That system is meant to generate extra downforce and help keep the tyres planted. The Thrust package takes that same foundation and adds acceleration thrusters, which Tesla calls a race-ready feature available in limited quantities. The Rocket sits one level above: a single-seater with what Tesla calls a full flight system. It is invite-only, and the Indian booking page does not list any reservation amount for it. Tesla says the Rocket’s design borrows from SR-71 and F-35 aircraft, using SpaceX components for some of its systems.
Production timing is a big deal for anyone thinking of entering a reservation. Tesla says Roadster production will begin in 2028, and those early models will be left-hand drive only. There is no announced timetable for a right-hand-drive version, and no confirmed delivery schedule for India. That leaves Indian buyers reserving speculatively — without knowing what the final local configuration, pricing, or regulatory path will be. Because India follows left-hand traffic, a left-hand-drive-only sports car raises real questions about road registration and everyday usability.
Alongside the Roadster news, Tesla India announced that it is adding Acceleration Boost to the six-seater Model Y L at no cost. The upgrade is claimed to lower 0-100 km/h to 4.5 seconds, with WLTP range of up to 681 km. That move is likely meant to keep the Model Y fresh in India while the Roadster grabs attention on the same page.
For U.S. enthusiasts, the India rollout offers an interesting point of comparison. Tesla’s American Roadster reservation page has historically asked for a smaller single deposit, whereas India’s booking model uses large, staged payments. Luxury EV taxes and import duties in India help explain the sharp difference in deposit expectations. The deeper message is that Tesla may be measuring demand before making a broader commitment to the Indian performance market, where the Roadster would rank alongside some of the most expensive cars sold locally.
One open question is whether Indian reservations will draw from a separate global allocation or simply add to order pressure ahead of a 2028 build start. Tesla has not said whether existing reservation holders in the U.S. or elsewhere will have priority over new India reservations. Given the Roadster’s history of delays, the safest reading is that reservations are a strong expression of interest rather than a guarantee of near-term delivery — in any market.
