Picture this: 2016 Paytm A young entrepreneur sits at his desk in Delhi, excitedly booking a Tesla Model 3 for $1,000, dreaming of the day he’ll cruise India’s roads in Elon Musk’s revolutionary electric car. Fast forward to 2024—that same man, now CEO of India’s fintech giant Paytm, finally gets his Tesla. But there’s a twist in this tale.
Table of Contents
The Nine-Year Wait That Finally Ended
Vijay Shekhar Sharma was among the first Indians to book a Tesla back in 2016, reserving a Model 3 for approximately ₹70,000. He wasn’t alone in his excitement—venture capitalist Mahesh Murthy, GOQii founder Vishal Gondal, and Voonik co-founder Sujayath Ali also jumped on the opportunity.
But dreams don’t always follow neat timelines. Tesla deferred its India launch indefinitely, returning booking amounts to frustrated early adopters. For nine years, Sharma waited. And finally, this week, he received his Glacier Blue Tesla Model Y at the Gurugram Tesla Centre, becoming one of the first high-profile Indians to own a Tesla following the company’s official India launch.
India’s Elite Tesla Club: Who’s Driving What?
Tesla has sold 140 units in India this year since opening bookings in mid-July, and the early adopters read like a who’s who of Indian industry and sports.
Notable Tesla Model Y Owners in India:
| Owner | Profession | Model | Color | Special Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vijay Shekhar Sharma | Paytm CEO | Model Y | Glacier Blue | First to book in 2016 |
| Rohit Sharma | Cricket Captain | Model Y | Stealth Grey | Plate: MH 01 FB 3015 (kids’ birthdays) |
| Pratap Sarnaik | Maharashtra Minister | Model Y | – | Early delivery recipient |
| Rakesh Ranjan | Former Zomato CEO | Model Y | – | Gurugram delivery |
The personal touch in Rohit Sharma’s registration number—3015—beautifully captures his daughter Samaira’s birthday (December 30) and son Ahaan’s (November 15). It’s these human stories that make Tesla ownership more than just buying a car; it’s about celebrating life’s milestones.
The Gurugram Game-Changer
Sharma took delivery of his Model Y from Tesla’s dealership at Aerocity’s Worldmark 3, now Tesla’s third facility in India. The November 26 opening of the Gurugram centre at Orchid Business Park, Sector-48, marked a watershed moment for India’s EV revolution.
This isn’t just another showroom. Tesla operates three charging stations equipped with 16 Superchargers and 10 Destination Chargers across major cities, building the infrastructure India desperately needs for electric mobility adoption.
What Makes the Tesla Model Y Worth the Wait?
Let’s talk numbers and features that justify the nine-year anticipation:
Tesla Model Y India Specifications:
| Variant | Price | Range | Charging Speed | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RWD (Standard) | ₹59.89 lakh | 500 km | 275 km in 15 min | 15.4″ touchscreen, panoramic glass roof |
| Long Range RWD | ₹67.89 lakh | 622 km | 275 km in 15 min | Dual-zone climate, ventilated seats |
With a V4 Supercharger, the Model Y can add up to 275 km of range in just 15 minutes, with 99.95 percent uptime. That’s faster than finishing your lunch at a highway dhaba!
The Model Y also comes with a free Tesla Wall Connector for home charging, making ownership surprisingly convenient. Imagine waking up every morning with a fully charged car—no more petrol pump detours.
From Model 3 Dreams to Model Y Reality
Why did Sharma and other early adopters wait so long? The story reveals Tesla’s strategic pivot. Originally, Tesla planned to launch the Model 3 sedan in India. However, the company scrapped those plans entirely, opting instead to bring the latest generation Model Y—a more practical SUV that better suits Indian road conditions and family needs.
All Tesla Model Ys are currently being imported from China as completely built units. While this drives up costs compared to local manufacturing, it ensures Indian buyers get the same cutting-edge technology as global customers from day one.
The Elon Musk Connection: More Than Just Business
Sharma’s relationship with Tesla and Musk goes beyond mere customer loyalty. Back in May 2022, when Musk reminisced about visiting the Taj Mahal, Sharma playfully asked him to deliver his first Tesla in India at the iconic monument.
He’s also been realistic about challenges, warning Musk that building Full Self-Driving technology for India would be incredibly difficult due to the country’s notoriously unruly traffic patterns. It’s this blend of enthusiasm and pragmatism that defines Sharma’s approach to innovation.
In 2020, when Tesla overtook Toyota to become the world’s most valuable automaker, Sharma praised Musk’s underdog success story, drawing parallels to his own journey with Paytm.
The Bigger Picture: India’s EV Revolution
Sharma’s Tesla purchase isn’t just a personal milestone—it’s a statement about India’s electric future. As someone who revolutionized digital payments through Paytm, bringing cashless transactions to millions of Indians, Sharma understands the power of technology to transform everyday life.
His adoption of electric mobility sends a powerful message: India’s tech elite are betting on sustainable transportation. When influential entrepreneurs embrace EVs, it creates a ripple effect through India’s aspirational middle class.
Why This Matters for India:
- Infrastructure validation: High-profile buyers accelerate charging network expansion
- Social proof: Celebrity adoption normalizes EV ownership
- Investment signal: Demonstrates long-term confidence in India’s EV market
- Environmental leadership: Tech billionaires modeling sustainable choices
The Road Ahead
Bookings for both variants of the Model Y are open across India through Tesla’s official website or authorized dealerships in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram. The infrastructure is growing, the products are here, and India’s elite are leading by example.
For Sharma, this isn’t just about owning a prestigious electric vehicle. It’s the culmination of a nine-year journey that parallels India’s own transformation—from a country where EVs seemed like distant dreams to one where they’re becoming everyday reality.
The Bottom Line
Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s Tesla Model Y delivery represents more than one man’s patience finally rewarded. It symbolizes India’s arrival on the global EV stage, the persistence of early adopters who believed when others doubted, and the beginning of a cleaner, electric future for Indian roads.
From that $1,000 deposit in 2016 to taking delivery in Glacier Blue in 2024, Sharma’s journey mirrors the challenges and triumphs of bringing cutting-edge technology to India. And if his track record with Paytm is any indication, his embrace of Tesla might just inspire millions more Indians to join the electric revolution.
