Tesla launched the Roadster in 2008 as its first production vehicle.
The first-generation Tesla Roadster was an electric sports car based on the Lotus Elise platform. Tesla began delivering it in 2008, making it the company’s first production model and an early high-profile demonstration that a battery-electric car could offer sports-car performance.
The Roadster used lithium-ion battery cells and a rechargeable battery pack with a range far greater than many earlier electric vehicles. Its performance helped attract attention to Tesla before the company moved toward more affordable, higher-volume models.
The original Roadster is sometimes confused with the second-generation Roadster announced in 2017. The later model has not replaced the 2008 car as Tesla’s first production vehicle. Tesla’s Model S, introduced later, became its first mass-market luxury sedan.