'I'm a Tesla fanboy': Dream11 CEO Harsh Jain wants 'dibs' on India launch; not the $1,000 refund
Dream11 CEO Harsh Jain said he wants to be among the first to buy a Tesla when it finally launches in India after he earlier called out Elon Musk and his EV maker for how they've handled the delay.
Jain criticised Tesla for refunding early reservation fees without honouring priority slots, saying the move is turning loyal fans into 'haters.'
In a post on social media platform X, the CEO said that he had paid a $1,000 deposit in March 2017 to reserve a Tesla Model 3 when the company first opened bookings in India. But nearly a decade later, with Tesla finally preparing for a formal launch in the country, the electric carmaker has decided to cancel his priority slot and simply refund the amount.
"Wow Elon Musk do you know how Tesla is turning ALL its fans and early believers in India into haters?' Jain wrote in a tweet.
He also compared investment in the priority slot with investment in the company's shares, 'Even if I had just invested this $1k in Tesla in March 2017, it would be worth ~$20k now. Way to show fans that Tesla doesn't care.'
However, Jain later clarified that he is a fan of Tesla and was not demanding refund, rather hoping for early access when Tesla cars eventually become available in India.
'To clarify what I'm asking for Elon Musk: I'm a Tesla fanboy and instead of the $1k refund, all I want is dibs on buying one whenever Tesla launches in India (and hopefully builds them in India too!)' he posted.
Jain also included an email from Tesla, in which the company said, 'The original Model 3 in your reservation was one of the products that have been replaced as our lineup evolves.'
The email added that Tesla is still finalising its product offerings in India and would be in touch again once ready to launch, saying, 'We hope to see you back with us.'
Musk's EV maker has been inching toward an Indian debut for years, but progress has been slow. The company recently leased warehouse space in Mumbai and posted several mid-level job openings, signalling renewed interest in the market.
For early supporters like Jain, however, the company's handling of their long-standing loyalty seems to have missed the mark.
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