Tesla, Inc., formerly known as Tesla Motors from 2003 until 2017, is an American producer of electric vehicles, solar power systems, and batteries for autos and household energy storage.  Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla, it was established in 2003 by American businessmen Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning.

Origins and the Roadster

The goal of founding Tesla Motors was to create an electric sports automobile. Tesla's chief executive officer (CEO) was Eberhard, and its CFO was Tarpenning (CFO). The company received funding from a number of sources, most notably PayPal cofounder Elon Musk, who gave the new business more than $30 million and served as chairman of the board starting in 2004. The first Vehicle, offered by Tesla Motors, was introduced in 2008. In corporate tests, it reached a range of 245 miles (394 km) on a single charge, a record for an electric vehicle in mass production. Additional testing revealed that the Roadster's performance was on par with that of many gasoline-powered sports cars, with a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time of less than four seconds and a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h). Carbon fiber was used to make the car's featherweight body. Since the Roadster didn't have an internal combustion engine, it didn't have any tailpipe emissions. According to Tesla Motors, the vehicle achieved efficiency ratings that were equivalent to 135 miles per gallon of gasoline (57 km per liter). Lithium-ion cells, which are frequently found in laptop batteries, were utilized to power the vehicle's electric engine and could be recharged from a regular electrical outlet. Despite receiving a $7,500 federal tax credit for buying an electric car, the Roadster's price of $109,000 rendered it a luxury good.

Eberhard joined the organization's advisory board in late 2007 after leaving his positions as CEO and president of technology. Although he continued to be a shareholder, it was disclosed in 2008 that he had departed the business. Tarpenning, a vice president of electrical engineering who was in charge of overseeing the creation of the software and technical systems for the Roadster, also left the business in 2008. As CEO, Musk took control. The initial public offering of Tesla in 2010 brought in about $226 million.

 Tesla under Musk: Model S, Model 3, and Model Y

 In order to focus on the new Model S car, which was praised for its performance and design by automotive journalists, Tesla ceased manufacture of the Roadster in 2012. It had three battery options that provided projected ranges of 235 or 300 miles (379 or 483 km). The battery option with the best performance provided acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) in just over four seconds and a top speed of 130 miles per hour (209 km/h). The Model S's underfloor battery system, in contrast to the Roadster's placement of the battery system at the back of the vehicle, improved handling due to the low center of gravity and provided more storage capacity in the back.

In order to swiftly and inexpensively charge batteries for Tesla owners, Tesla developed Supercharger stations in the US and Europe starting in 2012. Later iterations of those stations could even swap out the Model S battery pack in its entirety.

In 2015, Tesla unveiled the Model X, a "crossover" car featuring characteristics often found in sport-utility vehicles but built on a car chassis. The Model X offered seating for up to seven passengers and a maximum battery range of around 340 miles (547 km).

FOLLOW FOR MORE INFORMATION