Tesla

Tesla launched in San Carlos on July 1, 2003, when engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning partnered with investor Elon Musk to reshape personal transport. Their first car, the Roadster, rolled out in 2008, proving electric vehicles could thrill as much as they conserve. Early wins secured Series C funding, enabling Tesla to build its own battery packs and powertrains from the ground up and to open its first Supercharger network by 2012. The Model S arrived that year, rewriting sedan expectations with blistering acceleration, over-the-air software updates and a 300-mile range. Autopilot debuted in 2015, sparking the self-driving debate and cementing Tesla’s role as a tech pioneer. Subsequent launches—the mass-market Model 3 in 2017, crossover Model Y in 2020 and performance-tuned Plaid variants, drove rapid global expansion and five Gigafactories across three continents. Beyond cars, Tesla’s solar roofs and Powerwall batteries have pushed toward energy independence. Today’s lineup spans the performance-tuned Model S Plaid to the affordable Model 3 and Model Y, while a Gen 3 compact and robotaxi await regulatory approval.