What was Tesla’s first production automobile, introduced in 2008?

Tesla’s first production automobile, introduced in 2008, was the Tesla Roadster.

The Roadster was a battery-electric sports car based on the Lotus Elise platform, although Tesla substantially modified its powertrain and electrical systems. It used lithium-ion battery cells and helped demonstrate that an electric car could offer high performance rather than being designed only for short urban trips.

Tesla began delivering Roadsters in 2008. The company produced more than 2,400 during the model’s production run, which ended in 2012. Its limited volume and sports-car positioning reflected Tesla’s early strategy: establish electric technology and a premium brand before developing more affordable, higher-volume vehicles.

The Roadster is sometimes confused with the Model S because the latter became Tesla’s first mass-market-style sedan. The Model S entered production in 2012. Tesla later announced a second-generation Roadster, but that vehicle is distinct from the original 2008 production model.