Tesla’s longanticipated debut in India will finally become official next week, with the opening of its first showroom in Mumbai, setting the stage for commercial deliveries starting as early as next month, according to people familiar with the matter.

The showroom, coming up in Mumbai’s prime Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), is scheduled to open on July 15. This marks the electric vehicle giant’s first physical presence in the country, following years of backandforth with policymakers and a protracted entry process. The sleek, 3,000squarefoot space, located not far from India’s first Apple Store, is designed as a fullfledged experience centre where customers can explore variants, features, and trim options of Tesla’s EV lineup.

The opening will initially cater to invited guests, VIPs, and business partners, before throwing its doors open to the general public the following week, people aware of the plans said. Buyers will be able to begin configuring and ordering their cars as early as next week, with deliveries expected to begin by late August.

This will be followed closely by a second outlet in Delhi’s Aerocity area, expected to open before the end of the month. A wider rollout could follow based on how the market responds.

For now, the Tesla Model Y is expected to be the mainstay of the brand’s early presence in India. The rearwheel drive variant of the SUV, shipped from the company’s Shanghai Gigafactory, forms the bulk of the initial batch of vehicles. These units were declared at an approximate value of Rs 27.7 lakh each (around $32,270), but after accounting for 70% import duty on fullybuilt imported cars under $40,000, and other levies, the price tag for Indian buyers could well exceed Rs 60 lakh, significantly higher than its US price of roughly $46,000.

Eight Tesla models and variants have received homologation certification in India so far, a mandatory step for any automaker to offer products for sale in the country. In total, the company has brought in nine units for certification purposes, besides merchandise valued at around $1 million.

Opting for the import route, Tesla has chosen to bypass the government’s new EV manufacturing incentive scheme for now. The policy requires a minimum investment of Rs 4,150 crore and guarantees a 15% import duty rate for EVs priced above $35,000.

Tesla’s entry into India comes at a time when its global sales are under pressure. The company reported its second straight quarterly decline in deliveries, missing analyst estimates. While sales in China, its biggest international market, have shown marginal recovery, US volumes continue to decline.