Tesla opens test drives for 2026 Model Y Premium RWD in India, rolls out Grok AI assistant

Tesla has started test drives of the 2026 Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive in India while introducing Grok AI, bringing conversational intelligence, smarter navigation and OTA software updates to its electric SUV lineup.Tesla Model Y Premium RWDTesla has announced that the newly launched 2026 Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) is now available for test drives across its experience centres in India. Alongside the rollout, the electric vehicle maker has also introduced new artificial intelligence (AI) features for Indian customers, including Grok, the conversational AI assistant developed by xAI.The Grok AI assistant is being introduced through an over-the-air (OTA) software update and will be available at no additional cost to Model Y owners in India. Drivers can activate it by saying "Hey Grok" or by long-pressing the voice button on the steering wheel. The assistant supports multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.Tesla says Grok has been tailored for Indian users with features such as voice-based multi-stop trip planning, hyperlocal search for Superchargers, restaurants, hospitals, ATMs and other nearby locations, along with contextual explanations for vehicle warnings and alerts. Owners can also personalise Grok's tone, language and conversational style.The 2026 Model Y Premium RWD is priced at Rs 50.89 lakh (ex-showroom). Tesla is offering the SUV with a Rs 6 lakh down payment and EMIs starting from Rs 39,990. Customers who place their orders before August 30, 2026, will receive a complimentary wall connector for home charging. The electric SUV offers seating for five and up to 2,138 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded. It accelerates from 0–100kmph in 5.9 seconds and delivers a claimed WLTP range of up to 500km. Tesla says home charging support is now available across all Indian states.The latest software update also expands Tesla's automatic navigation feature beyond home and work destinations, allowing the system to predict and suggest routes based on a driver's habits and schedule. According to the company, more than 300 new or updated features were delivered globally through OTA updates in 2025, with the Summer 2026 update bringing further AI-driven enhancements. Tesla also highlighted its global momentum, claiming record deliveries in several international markets, including South Korea, Australia, Japan, Thailand and Portugal. The company added that it has more than doubled its onsite AI compute capacity in Texas during the first half of 2026, with its Cortex 2 platform supporting the development of autonomous driving software and humanoid robots. Tesla is also ramping up production of its 4680 battery cells to support growing demand for the Model Y.The 2026 Model Y Premium RWD is available for test drives and bookings at Tesla Experience Centres in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram, as well as through the company's official website.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine - EndsPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 17:07 IST