Tesla was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning and later became known for electric cars.
Eberhard and Tarpenning incorporated Tesla Motors in July 2003. Elon Musk joined as an early major investor and became chairman; he later became the company's chief executive. The company was named after inventor Nikola Tesla.
Tesla's first production vehicle was the Roadster, launched in 2008. It used lithium-ion battery cells and was based on the Lotus Elise sports-car platform. Tesla later expanded with the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y, while also selling energy-storage products and solar technology.
Tesla is often described as a carmaker, but its valuation has also reflected expectations about batteries, software, charging, autonomous-driving technology, and energy. The founding date is sometimes confused with Musk's arrival, but Tesla existed before Musk became its best-known leader.