Tesla produces the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y electric cars.
Tesla was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, with Elon Musk joining the company’s early funding round and becoming chairman. Its first production vehicle, the Roadster, entered the market in 2008 and used lithium-ion battery cells.
The Model S arrived in 2012, followed by the Model X in 2015, the Model 3 in 2017, and the Model Y in 2020. The Model 3 and Model Y broadened Tesla’s sales beyond luxury vehicles.
Tesla is often described simply as a carmaker, but its business also includes energy storage, solar products, charging infrastructure, and vehicle software. The company’s stock-market value has frequently reflected expectations about those wider activities.