Tesla, Inc.
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Introduction
Origins and the Roadster
Tesla under Musk: Model S, Model 3, and Model Y
Facts & Related Content
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CNN - Tesla’s history: From The Roadster to SEC problems
Official Site of Tesla Motors
Table Of Contents
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CNN - Tesla’s history: From The Roadster to SEC problems
Official Site of Tesla Motors
Written by
Barbara A. Schreiber Barbara Schreiber is an Editorial Assistant at Encyclopædia Britannica. She graduated cum laude from Saint Xavier University, Chicago, with a B.A. degree in Mass Communications. She also holds a M.A. degree...
Barbara A. Schreiber
Erik Gregersen Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the...
Erik Gregersen
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: May 17, 2023 •
Article History
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2003 - present
automobile
automotive industry
truck
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla Model Y
Elon Musk
Marc Tarpenning
Martin Eberhard
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Recent News
Musk says he's not stepping down as Tesla CEO, tells shareholders the company will advertise
US Virgin Islands seeks to subpoena Elon Musk in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit
State Supreme Court overturns judge's ruling prohibiting Tesla dealership in Delaware
Elon Musk must still have his tweets approved by Tesla lawyer, federal appeals court rules
Elon Musk says he's found a woman to lead Twitter as new CEO
Tesla, Inc. , formerly (2003–17) Tesla Motors , American manufacturer of electric automobiles , solar panels, and batteries for cars and home power storage. It was founded in 2003 by American entrepreneurs Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning and was named after Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla . It quickly became one of the most recognizable car brands  in the world.
Origins and the Roadster
Tesla Motors was formed to develop an electric sports car. Eberhard was Tesla’s chief executive officer (CEO) and Tarpenning its chief financial officer (CFO). Funding for the company was obtained from a variety of sources, most notably PayPal cofounder Elon Musk , who contributed more than $30 million to the new venture and served as chairman of the company, beginning in 2004.
In 2008 Tesla Motors released its first car, the completely electric Roadster . In company tests, it achieved 245 miles (394 km) on a single charge, a range unprecedented for a production electric car . Additional tests showed that its performance was comparable to that of many gasoline-powered sports cars: the Roadster could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles (96 km) per hour in less than four seconds and could reach a top speed of 125 miles (200 km) per hour. The lightweight car body was made of carbon fibre. The Roadster produced no tailpipe emissions, as it did not use an internal-combustion engine . Tesla Motors found that the car attained efficiency ratings that were equivalent to a gasoline mileage of 135 miles per gallon (57 km per litre). The vehicle’s electric motor was powered by lithium - ion cells—often used in laptop-computer batteries—that could be recharged from a standard electrical outlet. Despite a federal tax credit of $7,500 for purchasing an electric vehicle, the Roadster’s cost of $109,000 made it a luxury item.
In late 2007 Eberhard resigned as CEO and president of technology and joined the advisory board of the company. It was announced in 2008 that he had left the company, though he remained a shareholder. Tarpenning, who was vice president of electrical engineering, supervising the development of electronic and software systems for the Roadster, also left the company in 2008. Musk took over as CEO. In 2010 Tesla’s initial public offering raised some $226 million.
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Introduction. Origins and the Roadster. Tesla under Musk: Model S, Model 3, and Model Y. Facts & Related Content. Images. More Articles On This Topic. Contributors. Article History. Home. Politics, Law & Government. Banking & Business. Copy Citation. Facebook. Twitter. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tesla-Motors. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. CNN - Tesla’s history: From The Roadster to SEC problems. Official Site of Tesla Motors. Table Of Contents. Copy Citation. Facebook. Twitter. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tesla-Motors. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. CNN - Tesla’s history: From The Roadster to SEC problems. Official Site of Tesla Motors. Written by. Barbara A. Schreiber Barbara Schreiber is an Editorial Assistant at Encyclopædia Britannica. She graduated cum laude from Saint Xavier University, Chicago, with a B.A. degree in Mass Communications. She also holds a M.A. degree... Barbara A. Schreiber. Erik Gregersen Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the... Erik Gregersen. See All. Fact-checked by. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Last Updated: May 17, 2023 • Article History. See all media. 2003 - present. automobile. automotive industry. truck. Tesla Cybertruck. Tesla Model Y. Elon Musk. Marc Tarpenning. Martin Eberhard. See all related content →. Recent News. Musk says he's not stepping down as Tesla CEO, tells shareholders the company will advertise. US Virgin Islands seeks to subpoena Elon Musk in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit. State Supreme Court overturns judge's ruling prohibiting Tesla dealership in Delaware. Elon Musk must still have his tweets approved by Tesla lawyer, federal appeals court rules. Elon Musk says he's found a woman to lead Twitter as new CEO. Tesla, Inc. , formerly (2003–17) Tesla Motors , American manufacturer of electric automobiles , solar panels, and batteries for cars and home power storage. It was founded in 2003 by American entrepreneurs Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning and was named after Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla . It quickly became one of the most recognizable car brands  in the world. Origins and the Roadster. Tesla Motors was formed to develop an electric sports car. Eberhard was Tesla’s chief executive officer (CEO) and Tarpenning its chief financial officer (CFO). Funding for the company was obtained from a variety of sources, most notably PayPal cofounder Elon Musk , who contributed more than $30 million to the new venture and served as chairman of the company, beginning in 2004. In 2008 Tesla Motors released its first car, the completely electric Roadster . In company tests, it achieved 245 miles (394 km) on a single charge, a range unprecedented for a production electric car . Additional tests showed that its performance was comparable to that of many gasoline-powered sports cars: the Roadster could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles (96 km) per hour in less than four seconds and could reach a top speed of 125 miles (200 km) per hour. The lightweight car body was made of carbon fibre. The Roadster produced no tailpipe emissions, as it did not use an internal-combustion engine . Tesla Motors found that the car attained efficiency ratings that were equivalent to a gasoline mileage of 135 miles per gallon (57 km per litre). The vehicle’s electric motor was powered by lithium - ion cells—often used in laptop-computer batteries—that could be recharged from a standard electrical outlet. Despite a federal tax credit of $7,500 for purchasing an electric vehicle, the Roadster’s cost of $109,000 made it a luxury item. In late 2007 Eberhard resigned as CEO and president of technology and joined the advisory board of the company. It was announced in 2008 that he had left the company, though he remained a shareholder. Tarpenning, who was vice president of electrical engineering, supervising the development of electronic and software systems for the Roadster, also left the company in 2008. Musk took over as CEO. In 2010 Tesla’s initial public offering raised some $226 million.