Tesla unveiled the first prototype of its Roadster sports car in 2006.
The prototype was presented at the Santa Monica Airport in July 2006, giving the public its first substantial look at Tesla’s planned electric sports car. Tesla based the vehicle on the Lotus Elise platform but replaced its conventional powertrain with an electric system.
The Roadster was important because it challenged the idea that electric cars had to be slow or purely utilitarian. Its lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor helped establish Tesla’s performance-focused identity before the company moved into larger vehicles.
The 2006 unveiling should not be confused with the Roadster’s start of customer deliveries, which occurred later. Tesla began delivering production Roadsters in 2008, after development, testing, and production delays.