What was the first mass-produced electric car sold by Tesla, launched in 2008?

The Tesla Roadster was Tesla’s first mass-produced electric car, launched in 2008.

Based partly on the Lotus Elise platform, the Roadster used a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric powertrain. Tesla presented it as a sports car capable of combining zero-emission driving with performance that could attract customers beyond the traditional electric-car market.

Production began in 2008, and the first deliveries took place that year. Tesla later produced updated versions with changes to the battery, transmission, and other components. The car established the company as a serious electric-vehicle manufacturer before its higher-volume sedan arrived.

The Roadster is sometimes confused with the Model S because the Model S became Tesla’s first widely popular mass-market vehicle. However, the Roadster came first. Tesla has also used the Roadster name for a later, announced sports-car project.