Tesla Motors Founded
Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla Motors, named after inventor Nikola Tesla
July 01, 2003
A Car Company With a Mission
Tesla, Inc. was founded on July 1, 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk joined as chairman of the board in 2004 after leading a major investment round, and later became CEO in 2008. The company was named after inventor Nikola Tesla, who pioneered the alternating current electrical system. Tesla's stated mission from the start was to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.
From Roadster to Household Name
Tesla's first car, the Roadster, launched in 2008 and could travel over 200 miles on a single charge — shattering the range expectations for electric vehicles. The Model S sedan, released in 2012, became the best-selling electric car in the world. Tesla proved that electric cars could be fast, stylish, and practical. The company also built a network of Supercharger stations across the country to solve the charging problem that had held back electric vehicles for years.
Changing the Auto Industry Forever
Before Tesla, major automakers had largely abandoned electric vehicles. Tesla's success forced Ford, GM, Volkswagen, and nearly every other manufacturer to invest heavily in their own electric lineups. Tesla also pushed advances in battery technology, autonomous driving software, and direct-to-consumer car sales. Love it or criticize it, the company fundamentally changed what people expect from a car. You can learn more about the first electric car charge in history.