For Tesla, which electric sports car was the company’s first production vehicle?

The Tesla Roadster was Tesla’s first production vehicle.

The two-seat Roadster was based on the Lotus Elise chassis and used lithium-ion battery cells, a notable choice for an electric vehicle at the time. Tesla produced it from 2008 to 2012, and the car helped demonstrate that an electric vehicle could offer sports-car performance and meaningful driving range.

The Model S followed as Tesla’s first mass-produced sedan, while the Model 3 later targeted a broader market. Tesla also built the Roadster as a technology showcase rather than as a high-volume family car. Its launch helped shape the company’s reputation before Tesla expanded into sedans, SUVs, and commercial energy products.