Tesla is the electric-vehicle company founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning that became a major market-capitalization company.
Eberhard and Tarpenning founded Tesla Motors in 2003. Elon Musk joined as an early investor and became chairman; he later became the company's chief executive. Tesla's first production vehicle, the Roadster, used lithium-ion battery cells and was delivered in 2008.
The Model S, introduced in 2012, helped establish Tesla as a mass-market technology and automotive brand, while the Model 3 and Model Y expanded its sales significantly. Tesla also develops battery storage, charging infrastructure, and solar-energy products.
Tesla's market capitalization has often exceeded that of much larger traditional automakers, reflecting investor expectations about future growth. Market cap is not the same as annual vehicle production or revenue, which can produce very different rankings.