Mumbai, July 16 -- On a rainy Tuesday, Tesla Inc. opened its first showroom in India at the upscale Bandra Kurla Complex, marking the American electric vehicle maker's long-anticipated launch in the world's third-largest automobile market. Tesla will begin its stint in its 50th global market by importing and selling two versions of its popular Model Y electric cars, which were on display at the swanky new 4,500-square-metre showroom in Mumbai's financial district. Several car enthusiasts and curious onlookers got a glimpse of the shiny new cars-coloured Ultra Red and Pearl White-with a starting price of nearly Rs.60 lakh. The base price (excluding road tax and other fees) for the rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle with a range of 500 km would be Rs.59.89 lakh (~$69,650), while the long-range variant (622 km) would start from Rs.67.89 lakh (~$78,950). Model Y is priced at $46,630 (~Rs.40 lakh) in the US, highlighting India's high import tariffs and shipping costs. Despite the steep prices, Tesla officials said bookings for the cars have begun, and deliveries are expected to start from the December quarter for the RWD and the March quarter for the long-range variant. "These cars can be purchased either through full payment or a vehicle loan with an interest rate of around 8.7%-11%. The actual interest rate is at the discretion of the bank," said a Tesla official, requesting anonymity. The company plans to launch another showroom in Delhi soon. The base price (excluding road tax and other fees) for the rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle with a range of 500 km would be Rs.59.89 lakh. The EV giant has upgraded the features of the two variants to suit Indian roads following two years of testing, officials said. However, Tesla's popular self-driving features will not be available in India for now, as the Indian government yet to formulate a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles....