Tesla became the world's most valuable automaker by market capitalization, with its shares trading under the ticker TSLA.
Investor enthusiasm for electric vehicles, battery technology, and Tesla’s growth prospects drove its valuation far above that of traditional automakers during major parts of the 2020s. Market capitalization measures investor expectations as well as current business performance.
Tesla was founded in 2003 and was initially known as Tesla Motors. It delivered the Roadster, its first production car, in 2008. Tesla’s market value can move sharply, so rankings among Tesla, Toyota, BYD, and other automakers vary by date and share-price conditions.