Tesla is the electric-vehicle company founded in 2003 and known for the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y.
Tesla was incorporated as Tesla Motors on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk joined soon afterward as a major early investor and became chairman; he later became chief executive. The company’s first production vehicle was the Roadster, launched in 2008 and based on a modified Lotus Elise platform.
Tesla’s later vehicles broadened electric cars from a premium niche into a much larger market. The Model S sedan, Model X sport-utility vehicle, Model 3 sedan, and Model Y crossover became the company’s best-known passenger models. Tesla also sells energy-storage products and develops charging infrastructure and driver-assistance systems.
A common misconception is that Musk founded Tesla alone. He was not one of the original incorporators, although his early financing, leadership, and public role were decisive in the company’s development. Tesla’s market value has often been much larger than that of traditional automakers, reflecting expectations about electric vehicles, software, batteries, and autonomy.