Tesla is the electric-vehicle company led by Elon Musk that produced the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y.
Tesla was incorporated in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk joined as an early investor and became chairman, later serving as chief executive. The company's first production vehicle, the Roadster, used a modified Lotus Elise platform and lithium-ion battery cells.
The Model S sedan arrived in 2012, followed by the Model X SUV in 2015, the Model 3 in 2017, and the Model Y crossover in 2020. The Model 3 and Model Y were designed for higher-volume sales than Tesla's earlier vehicles.
Tesla is often described simply as a carmaker, but its business also includes energy-storage products, solar-energy offerings, charging infrastructure, and software. Its market capitalization can change sharply because investors price both vehicle sales and expectations about future technologies.