Updated Oct 21, 2021 1:24 PM IST After all, Tesla is a company which was initially eschewed by investors and dismissed by Detroit carmakers. Tesla is a brand that elicits very different reactions from technology and automobile enthusiasts. For the Elon Musk fanboys, it’s the holy grail of innovation. However, the response from the automotive folks is a mixed bag. After all, Tesla is a company which was initially eschewed by investors and dismissed by Detroit carmakers. Advertisement Now, it is the same company which is compelling the entire industry to innovate at a rapid pace. But, is it a tech company that manufactures cars or an automobile company that excels at making electric vehicles? When will it officially launch in India? How will its electric cars perform on Indian roads? We spent a day with India’s only Model 3 in the search for some answers. For the past few months, there have been reports of Tesla test cars being spotted in Indian cities, most of them have been camouflaged or decked up with testing apparatus. But, VS Reddy, founder and chairman of British Biologicals recently broke the bank to import a Model 3 from the UK and was nice enough to lend it to us for a day of testing in Bengaluru. Advertisement The vehicle tested by us was a Tesla Model 3 “Long Range” which can belt out more than 500 kms on a single charge. This beast of an EV is powered by dual electric motors with nearly 450 horsepower and it doesn’t fail to impress as soon as you floor the accelerator. INSIDE THE MODEL 3 As soon as you enter the vehicle, it’s clear that you’re in for no ordinary experience. For starters, there’s no key or button to be pressed. Instead, you have a Tesla card, which looks much like a credit card and can fit very snugly into your MagSafe wallet or credit card holder. Tap it on the side of the door, and as soon as the side rear view mirrors open up, voila, you’re in! Advertisement Inside, the cabin is a breath of fresh air. Minimalistic and no clutter- tailor made for its target group of millennials. In fact, this minimalistic interior is what sets it apart from other manufacturers trying too hard to differentiate in a cluttered market. The absence of a clunky electronic instrument cluster is quite refreshing.