Tesla renamed itself from Tesla Motors to Tesla, Inc. in 2017.
The company was incorporated as Tesla Motors in 2003 and initially focused on electric vehicles. As its business expanded, Tesla moved beyond cars into battery storage, solar energy, charging infrastructure, and other energy products. The corporate name change reflected that broader strategy.
Tesla adopted the name Tesla, Inc. in February 2017. The change occurred after the company’s acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 and while it was developing products such as Powerwall and Powerpack. The company continued to use Tesla as its consumer-facing brand.
The renaming did not mark the launch of a new vehicle. It was a corporate identity change that acknowledged Tesla’s expanding energy operations. Tesla Motors is therefore the earlier legal name, while Tesla, Inc. is the name used from 2017 onward.