Tesla, one of the world's most valuable companies by market capitalization, delivered its first production Model S in 2012.
The Model S was Tesla's first mass-produced electric car and its second vehicle after the limited-production Roadster. Tesla unveiled the Model S prototype in 2009, but customer deliveries began in June 2012. The sedan helped establish that an electric vehicle could combine long range, rapid acceleration, and premium-car features.
The Model S was built at Tesla's Fremont factory in California. Early versions used lithium-ion battery packs arranged beneath the passenger compartment, a layout that lowered the car's center of gravity and provided storage space at both ends.
People sometimes confuse the Model S launch with the Roadster's debut. The Roadster entered production in 2008 and was based on the Lotus Elise, whereas the Model S was designed as Tesla's own four-door luxury sedan. Tesla's later Model 3 and Model Y expanded the company into higher-volume markets.