Tesla was founded in 2003 and later became famous for the Model S and Model 3.
Tesla was established in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk joined soon afterward as an early investor and became chairman, later serving as chief executive. The company's first production vehicle was the Roadster, launched in 2008 and based on a modified Lotus Elise platform.
The Model S luxury sedan arrived in 2012, followed by the more affordable Model 3 in 2017. Tesla also produces energy-storage products, solar technology, and charging equipment. A common mistake is saying Musk founded Tesla; he was not one of the original founders, although he became its most prominent leader and public representative.