# Tesla Roadster India Bookings Open: INR 2.50 Crore Deposit, Production in 2028

> Tesla is taking Roadster reservations in India, with deposits reaching INR 2.50 crore for the Thrust variant -- even though production starts in 2028 and right-hand-drive timing is unconfirmed.
- **Author**: Prakash Reddy
- **Published**: 2026-10-21
- **Modified**: 2026-10-24
- **Category**: news
- **URL**: https://bestev.in/news/tesla-roadster-india-bookings-open-2-50-crore-deposit-production-in-2028-20261021

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Tesla has opened reservations for the new **Roadster in India**, putting the company's long-delayed electric sports car on the Indian configurator years before a single right-hand-drive unit is scheduled to be built.

The reservation is not cheap. Depending on the variant, Indian buyers must commit anything from **INR 50.06 lakh to INR 2.50 crore** as a booking amount -- and that is before the car's actual price has been announced.

## Reservation amounts

| Variant | Initial payment | Balance within 10 days | Total reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | INR 5.01 lakh | INR 45.05 lakh | INR 50.06 lakh |
| Thrust | INR 5.01 lakh | INR 2,45,24,000 | INR 2,50,25,000 |
| Rocket | Invite only | Not disclosed | Not announced |

The initial INR 5.01 lakh is fully refundable. The reservation is confirmed only after the second instalment is paid within ten days; if it is not, the booking can be cancelled. The Thrust variant is limited to one order per customer.

These are **reservation payments, not the ex-showroom price**. Tesla has not announced Indian pricing, and the deposits should not be read as an indication of the final cost.

## What the variants mean

- **Performance:** the standard two-seat Roadster, with active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system that uses a fan and ground sealing to generate downforce.
- **Thrust:** adds cold-gas acceleration thrusters at the rear. Tesla claims a 0-100 kmph time below one second. Availability depends on local laws and regulatory approval.
- **Rocket:** a single-seat, flight-capable version offered by invitation only. It is not listed with a reservation amount.

Tesla says the design draws on the SR-71 and F-35 aircraft and incorporates SpaceX components. Production specifications remain subject to confirmation.

## The right-hand-drive problem

The Roadster will enter production in **2028**, initially in **left-hand-drive only**. Tesla has not announced a timeline for right-hand-drive production.

That means an Indian reservation today is a place in a queue for a car that may not be built in a form legal for Indian roads for years. Buyers are effectively funding a position in line, not ordering a vehicle.

## Why India is on the list at all

Tesla's Indian business has scaled faster than most expected. Registrations rose to **646 units between April and September 2026**, against 69 in the same period a year earlier -- a jump of about **836%**. Its share of India's luxury EV market climbed to **14.6%**, and September registrations of 296 units overtook Mercedes-Benz's 128.

The Roadster listing costs Tesla nothing and generates enormous attention. It also signals that India sits inside the company's global reservation footprint, alongside the United States and a handful of other markets.

Tesla currently sells the **Model Y at INR 50.89 lakh** and the **Model Y L at INR 61.99 lakh** in India. The Model Y L recently received a complimentary Acceleration Boost, cutting its 0-100 kmph time to 4.5 seconds.

## Should anyone in India reserve one?

Only as a statement, not as a purchase plan. The deposit is refundable, but the car is left-hand-drive-first, unhomologated for India, unpriced and at least two years from production. For buyers who want a fast electric car they can actually drive this decade, the mainstream market is the practical choice -- see our [electric cars](/electric-cars) section for models on sale now.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much does it cost to reserve a Tesla Roadster in India?**
INR 50.06 lakh for the Performance variant and INR 2,50,25,000 (about INR 2.50 crore) for the Thrust variant, paid in two instalments.

**Is the Tesla Roadster booking amount refundable?**
The initial INR 5.01 lakh payment is fully refundable. The reservation is confirmed only after the balance is paid within 10 days.

**When will the Tesla Roadster be produced?**
Production is scheduled to begin in 2028, initially with left-hand-drive vehicles. No right-hand-drive timeline has been announced.

**Has Tesla announced the Roadster's India price?**
No. Only reservation amounts are listed; final ex-showroom pricing and delivery timing for India remain unconfirmed.

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