Elon Musk-led Tesla entered the Indian automotive market recently, launching the Model Y as its introductory electric car in the market. The Model Y is Tesla’s first compact cross-over electric SUV, which is now available at a price starting from Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom price).
Tesla entered the third-largest automobile market in the world on July 15, when it opened its first showroom in Mumbai, India, reportedly bringing in $1 million worth of vehicles and supplies. To be sure, the Tesla Model Y is the only car that is currently up for sale in the country.
Since its launch in 2014, Tesla has continuously improved its autopilot technology. (Image:X/Tesla India)
The Model Y will be available in two variants: Standard Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and Long Range RWD which are available for Rs 59.89 lakh and Rs 67.89 lakh, respectively. However, the standard variant in the United States is being sold at $37,490 (roughly Rs 32 lakh). The hefty price tag in India is likely due to import duties, as the car comes through as a complete Built Up (CBU) unit.
The standard model of the Model Y has a claimed range of up to 500 km and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. In contrast, the Long Range version boasts a claimed range of 622 kilometres and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 5.6 seconds. The Standard Model Y has a 63 kWh battery and a 283 hp rear motor, and the Long Range has an 83 kWh battery and a 312 hp rear engine. Both have a top speed of 201 kph, according to its official website.
Beyond the car specs, Tesla cars are known for its cutting-edge automotive technology such as its Autopilot features and Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised. Let’s take a look at all the tech-driven features that come with the Model Y.
What is Tesla Autopilot?
Since its launch in 2014, Tesla has continuously improved its autopilot technology. Autopilot in the Tesla Model Y is a suite of features designed to make driving easier. It includes Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, which automatically adjusts the car’s speed to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead, and Autosteer, which not only maintains speed and following distance while steering but also intelligently centres the Model Y within its lane.
Tesla has advertised vacancies for supply chain engineers and vehicle operators who will be responsible for collecting data for its Autopilot features, according to a report by Reuters.
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What is Tesla FSD Supervised?
For a slightly more hands-off experience, the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature in Model Y offers advanced features to reduce driver workload. This includes Auto Lane Change, allowing the Model Y to move into an adjacent lane when the turn signal is activated with Autosteer engaged. Navigating on Autopilot takes this a step further, actively guiding the car from a highway on-ramp to an off-ramp, handling lane changes, interchanges, and even automatically engaging the turn signal for exits.
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) aims to drive the Model Y to the destination by navigating curves, intersections, stop signs, and roundabouts, making turns, and handling highway entry and exit. It also provides convenient parking and summoning features.
Full self-driving (supervised) is the only feature provided by Tesla that is optional to the Model Y in India. (Image: X/Tesla India)
Autopark can automatically park your Model Y, whether it’s a parallel or perpendicular spot. For tight spaces, dumb Summon lets you move your car forward or backward while you are outside the vehicle. The more advanced Actually Smart Summon allows your Model Y to exit a parking space and navigate more complex environments, avoiding obstacles and other vehicles, to either meet you or go to a predetermined target.
Finally, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control enhances Autopilot by enabling your Model Y to slow down and stop for traffic lights and stop signs while maintaining your speed, following distance, and lane position. Tesla vehicles are equipped with eight external cameras and powerful vision processing technology, providing an added layer of safety as per the Tesla owner manual of the model Y, stated Tesla Model Y’s owners manual.
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Full self-driving (supervised) is the only feature provided by Tesla that is optional to the Model Y in India. This feature, which is available in some foreign countries, allows the car to travel almost entirely on its own with little assistance from the driver. The additional cost of this optional feature is Rs 6 lakh.
However, Tesla India’s website states that FSD Supervised will be made available ‘in future updates’.
“The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous. Some features require turn signals and are limited in range. The activation and use of these features are dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience, as well as regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions. As these self-driving features evolve, your car will be continuously upgraded through over-the-air software updates,” the website reads.
How does Tesla’s Model Y stand out?
Technologies such as Autopilot and FSD Supervised, which are integrated into cars to make driving safer and easier, are an extension of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) capabilities. ADAS might alert you when you are leaving your lane. If a collision is likely to happen, it may also automatically engage the brakes, and by identifying obstacles, you can help park and keep a safe distance from the automobile in front.
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The majority of automobiles made in India have Level 1 and Level 2 ADAS, which warn you if you stray from your lane. Additionally, it can simultaneously control the steering and braking while you are driving.
With Tesla Autopilot, a Level 3 ADAS, the vehicle can operate autonomously under supervision. Additionally, Tesla is also currently testing fully autonomous cars that don’t need assistance.
Other features
Bioweapon Defence mode: Modern air filtration technology is used in this feature to shield car occupants from a variety of air contaminants, such as smoke, exhaust fumes, allergies, airborne pathogens, and other potentially dangerous particles. A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter is used in this feature.
The air filtering systems seen in clean rooms, hospitals, and the aerospace sector served as the model for the filter in Bioweapon Defence Mode. The temperature control system draws in outside air and filters it using a secondary filtration system and a HEPA filter when it is turned on. This method efficiently purges the air of impurities and dangerous particles.
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Tesla App: The Tesla mobile app’s home screen offers a range of convenient controls: You can remotely lock or unlock your vehicle, manage the cabin climate by enabling or disabling the heating or air conditioning, and monitor your vehicle’s charging status, with details also appearing when a charging cable is connected.
The app further allows you to open or close the charge port, and you’ll even see twisting red lines next to the battery icon if the battery is actively heating up (such as during charging or preparation to charge). Beyond these functions, you can view your vehicle’s current location and estimated range, open the front trunk, and access important vehicle information like the odometer, VIN, and current software version.
Tesla says it will have four V4 Supercharger stations in Mumbai, Lower Parel, Bandra Kurla, Navi Mumbai, and Thane. Each station will have four charging points, and the same stations will be established in Delhi-NCR at Aerocity, Saket, Gurugram, and Noida.
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