Tesla, Inc.
American electric vehicle and clean energy company founded in 2003.
Tesla, Inc. is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. It designs, manufactures, and sells battery electric vehicles, stationary battery energy storage devices, solar panels and solar shingles, and related products and services. The company was incorporated in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning as Tesla Motors, named after inventor Nikola Tesla, and has become one of the world's most valuable companies by market capitalization, leading the battery electric vehicle market with a significant share in 2024.
- founded
- July 2003
- founders
- Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning (co-founders also include Ian Wright, Elon Musk, and J. B. Straubel per 2009 settlement)
- headquarters
- Austin, Texas
- industry
- Automotive and clean energy
- known_for
- Battery electric vehicles, energy storage, solar products, and controversial CEO Elon Musk
- market_share_2024
- Leading share of battery electric vehicle market (exact figures vary)
Lore & Background
Tesla was incorporated on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who served as CEO and CFO. Ian Wright joined shortly after. In February 2004, Elon Musk led the first funding round with $6.5 million, becoming chairman and largest shareholder. J. B. Straubel joined as CTO in May 2004. A 2009 lawsuit settlement allowed all five to be called co-founders. The company began production of its first car, the Roadster, in 2008, followed by the Model S in 2012, Model X in 2015, Model 3 in 2017, Model Y in 2020, Tesla Semi in 2022, and Cybertruck in 2023. Tesla went public in June 2010. Tesla has been the world's most valuable automaker since July 2020 and intermittently reached a $1 trillion valuation between October 2021 and March 2022. The company has faced lawsuits, boycotts, and criticism over whistleblower retaliation, worker rights violations, safety defects, and controversial statements by Musk.
Reader's Guide
Tesla, Inc. transformed the automotive industry by proving that battery electric vehicles could be high-performance and desirable, starting with the Roadster and scaling through the Model S, Model 3, and beyond. Its vertical integration—including battery production, software development, and direct sales—set new standards. The company's market capitalization made it the most valuable automaker globally from 2020 onward, and it briefly joined the trillion-dollar club multiple times. However, its legacy is mixed: while it led the electric vehicle market with a 17.6% share in 2024, it lost that lead by the end of 2025. Tesla also expanded into energy storage and solar, though the SolarCity acquisition was controversial. The company has been dogged by production challenges, regulatory scrutiny, and lawsuits over labor practices, safety recalls, and Musk's public statements. Its influence on the shift toward electrification is undeniable, but its operational and ethical controversies remain significant parts of its story.
Did You Know?
- Tesla was named after inventor Nikola Tesla.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tesla, Inc.?
Tesla, Inc. is an American company that builds electric cars and clean-energy products, operating out of Austin, Texas. It was originally incorporated in 2003 under the name Tesla Motors and takes its name from the 19th-century electrical engineer Nikola Tesla.
What are Tesla, Inc.'s powers/role?
The company designs and sells fully electric vehicles, home battery storage systems, and residential solar panels. It also provides related software and charging infrastructure that tie its product ecosystem together.
How does Tesla, Inc.'s story end?
As of the latest available data, Tesla remains active and holds roughly a 17.6% slice of the global battery-electric vehicle market. Its long-term trajectory is still unfolding, with ongoing expansion into new regions and product categories.
Why is Tesla, Inc. important?
Tesla helped shift public perception of electric cars from niche to mainstream, becoming one of the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world. Its energy-storage and solar offerings also push the broader clean-energy transition forward.
Who are Tesla, Inc.'s founding characters?
Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning incorporated the company in July 2003, though a later legal settlement acknowledged Ian Wright, Elon Musk, and J. B. Straubel as co-founders as well. Elon Musk went on to serve as CEO and became the public face most associated with the brand.
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