A camouflaged 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper has been spotted in India multiple times over the last week. This coincidentally lined up with the Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting in the United States.
The new Tesla Model Y, trying hard to hide behind a camouflage, was spotted in the affluent neighborhoods of Mumbai and the surrounding highways.
We can safely assume that Tesla sent only one Model Y Juniper to India, as in all sightings, the license plate number is “KA03TC016/5“. This looks like a manufacturer plate in red in India.
Tesla enthusiasts from India not only took pictures of the new Model Y electric vehicle, but also took short videos during its testing on Indian roads (watch below).
Why the Camouflage?
In one sighting, the new Model Y was spotted along with the older generation Model Y. Interestingly, the legacy Model Y was not camouflaged.
Since the internet is full of pictures and videos of the new Model Y, why did Tesla camouflage it in India?
As I am closely aware of the Indian demographics and culture, I am better positioned to answer this question.
While the auto enthusiast community in India and Pakistan is well-versed with Tesla’s electric vehicles, the majority of the general public has yet to get acquainted with the brand.
Tesla (TSLA) is on the premium and luxury side of the spectrum when it comes to cars in India, the general audience has yet to become aware of the new brand.
The camouflage is going to create curiosity in the public and they will try to search the internet for this car. Tesla strategically sent this test unit to Mumbai, which is home to India’s elite, upper, and upper-middle classes. This is the segment that Tesla is going to target as their market.
Elon Musk and PM Modi’s Meeting
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Washington on Friday, 18th April 2025. After the meeting, both Musk and PM Modi posted their thoughts and outcomes of the meeting on X (Twitter).
“I am incredibly excited about the future of India,” Elon Musk said after the meeting. When asked about the meeting, Musk said “He really cares about India [Modi], because he’s really pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something we intend to do”.
“We’re just trying to figure out the right timing,” Musk explained the delay in launching Tesla in India.
In the end, Musk said that he’s looking forward to visiting India next year (tentative 2026).
Tesla incorporated as a company in India in 2021. This event triggered massive speculations, but the launch got delayed even after Tesla executives met with Indian government officials at the time.
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