Founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) (NASDAQ: TSLA) has grown from a niche electric sports car manufacturer into a global leader in sustainable energy and transportation. Under the guidance of CEO Elon Musk, who joined the company as chairman following its Series A funding round in 2004, Tesla has expanded its mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy through innovative electric vehicles (EVs), energy generation and storage solutions, and advanced software development.
Tesla’s core business centers on the design, development and manufacture of electric vehicles. The company’s current lineup includes the Model S and Model X luxury segments, the mass-market Model 3 sedan, and the compact SUV Model Y. Tesla has also unveiled upcoming vehicles such as the Cybertruck, an all-electric pickup; the Tesla Semi, aimed at heavy-duty transport; and the next-generation Roadster high-performance sports car. In parallel, Tesla markets a suite of energy products, including the Powerwall home battery, Powerpack commercial energy storage, Megapack utility-scale storage systems, and integrated solar panels and Solar Roof tiles, enabling customers to generate, store and consume renewable energy on site.
With manufacturing and assembly facilities—known as Gigafactories—in North America, Europe and Asia, Tesla serves customers in over 30 countries. Key production sites include Gigafactory Nevada for battery and powertrain components, Gigafactory Shanghai for Model 3 and Model Y production, Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg for European vehicles, and Gigafactory Texas in Austin, which consolidates vehicle manufacturing and research operations. The company’s global Supercharger network and destination charging partnerships further enhance vehicle usability for long-distance travel.
Leadership at Tesla emphasizes vertical integration, in-house software development and a direct-to-consumer sales model. Beyond hardware, Tesla’s over-the-air software updates deliver new features, performance improvements and the evolving capabilities of its Autopilot driver assistance and Full Self-Driving packages. Under Musk’s strategic vision, Tesla continues to invest in battery technology, manufacturing scale-up and energy solutions, positioning itself at the forefront of the transition to sustainable transportation and power generation worldwide.
