Who co-founded Tesla Motors with Martin Eberhard in 2003?

Marc Tarpenning co-founded Tesla Motors with Martin Eberhard in 2003.

Tarpenning and Eberhard established the company to develop electric vehicles that could compete with conventional sports cars and later mainstream automobiles. Their early work helped define Tesla’s original strategy: use lithium-ion batteries and begin with a high-performance vehicle before moving toward more affordable models.

Elon Musk joined Tesla shortly after its formation as an early investor and became chairman of the board. JB Straubel also became a major early technical leader, but neither was the company’s original co-founder alongside Eberhard. Ian Wright was another early Tesla executive and co-founder, though he joined the founding team after the company was established.

Tarpenning served as Tesla’s chief financial officer and vice president of engineering during the company’s early period. He left Tesla in 2008, before the company began delivering the original Roadster at scale.