NEW DELHI: Tesla chief Elon Musk may have hinted at a likely delay in the proposed launch of his company’s much-awaited Model 3 in India, but that has in no way diminished the fevered anticipation among Indian technology entrepreneurs and executives who have signed up to buy the iconic vehicle.Digital payments provider Paytm’s founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma Vishal Gondal of GOQii and Tech Mahindra’s chief strategy officer Jagdish Mitra — all self-proclaimed fanboys of Musk, who coughed up $1,000 for pre-bookings last year — can’t wait to get their hands on the car.Sharma says he can’t wait till the India launch anymore and plans to import a “right-hand driven” Model 3, which could be the first such car on Delhi roads. “It’s about worshipping the vehicle of the future and the man behind it,” said Sharma.An imported Model 3 in India will cost over double its selling price of $35,000 (Rs 22,61,525) in the US, after the rollout of the goods and services tax (GST), expected on July 1. “Tesla epitomises not just sustainable transportation but also the entrepreneurship streak through Musk and there is a great personality match,” said Sharma.Gondal, though a “bit disappointed because Tesla seems to be ‘clueless’ about Indian policies”, is still patient. “I am a big fan of Elon Musk and I will do anything to support a thinker like him, even in a small way,” he said.The Mumbai-based entrepreneur recently heard Musk speak at an event in Vancouver about his Mars mission and projects such as digging tunnels in the middle of Los Angeles. “Thinkers like Musk disrupt like no one does,” said Gondal, who expects the car to reach India by 2018, if not this year.On Monday, Musk had tweeted that his company may have to put on hold its launch plans in India due to the absence of an ecosystem for the supply of electric vehicle components.Responding to a query from Twitter user Avinash Singh on Tesla’s India plans, Musk had said, “Maybe I’m misinformed, but I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply does not yet exist in India to support that.”The commerce and industry ministry, through its ‘Make in India’ Twitter handle, clarified to Musk the next day that the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy does not mandate any such minimum sourcing of components by manufacturers.Last year, in April, Tesla had said it planned to enter India with its Model 3 in 2017. Minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari had even offered Tesla land near ports so the company can set up a manufacturing unit in the country and make it an export base.But for Tesla fanboys of all ages like Jagdish Mitra of Tech Mahindra , the wait continues, more so as he has had a chance to test it in the US.“It seems straight out of a sci-fi movie with its smart features.” It will be a lot safer than manual cars because of the cameras and sensors, he said, adding that it is not a car but an experience. Gondal says he is fascinated with Model 3 because the company has redefined the category of electric cars.“It’s state-of-theart, it’s a trendsetter,” he said, adding that many companies have toyed with electric vehicles but no one has been very successful. “I even tweeted to Musk that he should at least make available Model S in India for test drives.”Gondal said it is better that Tesla launches only when it has the supporting infrastructure in place, such as battery charging stations. Sharma, on the other hand, plans to set up his own supporting infrastructure. Even as he is in the process of figuring out firms that will help him import the car for himself, he said the pre-booked one will be for family and colleagues. “All of it is part of the deal to support what Musk is doing,” said Sharma.