Written by Tesla Cars
Tesla cars took electric driving from a niche to the mainstream, starting with a small sports car in 2008 and then the Model S, Model 3 and Model Y. This guide covers what Tesla sells in 2026, as well as how the company started, who owns it, where the cars are built and what comes next.
Tesla Cars at a Glance
Founded 1 July 2003 As Tesla Motors, in San Carlos, California
Founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning Elon Musk, J.B. Straubel and Ian Wright are also recognized as co-founders
Headquarters Austin, Texas Gigafactory Texas, since December 2021
Listed NASDAQ: TSLA Public since 2010; in the S&P 500 since 2020
Deliveries 2025 1,636,129 Worldwide; down 9% from 2024
Leadership Elon Musk CEO since 2008; Robyn Denholm is chair
Tesla Cars Model Lineup
Tesla cars for 2026 form a short list, because the company builds only a handful of models and sells them worldwide. The Model 3 and Model Y still make up the vast majority of sales. However, 2026 also brought big changes: the Model S and Model X ended production in May 2026, so their Fremont line could be turned over to the Optimus robot. Meanwhile, the Cybercab robotaxi and the Semi truck both entered production, and a new Roadster is due to be revealed in October 2026.
Cars (1)
Midsize sedan
Tesla Model 3
Electric Rear- or all-wheel drive Cheapest Tesla
The Model 3 is Tesla’s midsize sedan, and it is also the cheapest way into a new Tesla. For 2026 the US lineup starts with the Standard at $36,990, rated at 321 miles of range, while the Premium rear-wheel-drive version stretches that to 363 miles. There is also a quick Performance model at the top.
SUVs (2)
Compact SUV
Tesla Model Y
Electric Best-seller Global
The Model Y is Tesla’s best-seller, and in 2023 it became the first electric car to rank as the world’s best-selling car. Since the 2025 facelift, it has a light bar front and rear. In the US it starts at $39,990 for the Standard trim with 321 miles of range, while Premium and Performance versions sit above it.
Six-seat SUV
Tesla Model Y L
Electric 3 rows New in the US
The Model Y L is a stretched Model Y with six seats, including captain’s chairs in the middle row. It launched in China in August 2025 and then reached the US in July 2026, priced from $61,990 with 325 miles of EPA range.
Pickup (1)
Full-size pickup
Tesla Cybertruck
Electric Stainless steel Dual or tri-motor
Tesla’s stainless-steel pickup began deliveries in November 2023. For 2026 the cheaper rear-wheel-drive version is gone, so every Cybertruck now has at least two motors. The Dual Motor is rated at 325 miles, while the tri-motor Cyberbeast sits at the top of the range.
Trucks and robotaxi (2)
Heavy truck
Tesla Semi
Electric Class 8 Volume production 2026
The Semi is Tesla’s electric heavy truck. PepsiCo received the first hand-built trucks in late 2022, and then volume production finally began on 25 September 2026 at a new plant next to Gigafactory Nevada, which can build 50,000 trucks a year. It comes with about 325 or 500 miles of range.
Robotaxi
Tesla Cybercab
Electric Two seats No steering wheel
The Cybercab is a two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals. It was unveiled in October 2024, and production started at Gigafactory Texas in 2026. Tesla then began offering paid Cybercab rides in Austin in September 2026, although it is not sold to private buyers and is under a federal safety investigation.
Coming soon (1)
Sports car
Tesla Roadster (second generation)
Electric Reveal in October 2026 Delayed since 2017
The next Roadster was first shown as a prototype in 2017, and since then it has been delayed many times. Tesla has now set its final reveal for October 2026, although production is expected to follow later.
What Are Tesla Cars?
Tesla cars are built by Tesla, Inc., an American company based in Austin, Texas, that makes electric vehicles, batteries and home and grid energy storage. Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded it as Tesla Motors on 1 July 2003, and they named it after the inventor Nikola Tesla. Elon Musk then led its first big funding round in February 2004 and became chairman, before taking over as CEO in October 2008.
The first car, the Roadster, went into production in 2008, using a modified Lotus Elise chassis and thousands of laptop-style battery cells. Tesla then went public in 2010, and it bought the former NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, from Toyota. Because the Model S (2012) proved an electric car could be fast, long-range and desirable, the company was able to follow it with the Model X, the more affordable Model 3 and the Model Y.
Today Tesla cars are built in California, Texas, Shanghai and Berlin, while Nevada makes batteries and the Semi. In addition, the company runs the Supercharger network, whose plug became the North American standard, and it sells Powerwall and Megapack batteries. However, sales fell in both 2024 and 2025, and in 2025 BYD passed Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of fully electric cars. As a result, Tesla is now betting much of its future on self-driving robotaxis and the Optimus humanoid robot.
Tesla Cars History
Tesla cars went from a small startup’s hand-built Roadster to 10 million vehicles in about 18 years of production.
- 2003 Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning found Tesla Motors in California on 1 July.
- 2004 Elon Musk leads the Series A funding round and becomes chairman.
- 2008 Roadster production begins, and later that year Musk becomes CEO.
- 2010 Tesla goes public on NASDAQ, and it also buys the Fremont factory from Toyota.
- 2012 The Model S goes on sale, starting with deliveries in Fremont in June.
- 2015 The Model X SUV arrives with its falcon-wing rear doors.
- 2016 Tesla buys SolarCity, so it adds solar panels to its energy business.
- 2017 Model 3 deliveries begin, while the company is renamed Tesla, Inc.
- 2019 Gigafactory Shanghai starts building cars, China’s first wholly foreign-owned car plant.
- 2020 Model Y deliveries begin, and then Tesla joins the S&P 500 in December.
- 2021 Tesla moves its headquarters to Austin, Texas, and its market value passes $1 trillion.
- 2022 Gigafactory Berlin and Gigafactory Texas start production.
- 2023 The Model Y becomes the world’s best-selling car, and the Cybertruck reaches its first buyers.
- 2025 Deliveries fall for a second year to 1.64 million, so BYD takes the lead in electric car sales.
- 2026 The Model S and Model X end production, while the Cybercab and Semi enter production and Tesla builds its 10 millionth vehicle.
Iconic Tesla Models
These six moments shaped Tesla cars and how people see them, from the first Roadster to a Roadster in space.
2008–2012
Tesla Roadster (first generation)
First Tesla Lotus-based
The original Roadster was the first highway-legal production car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and it proved that an electric car could be quick and fun. About 2,450 were delivered before production ended in 2012.
2012–2026
Tesla Model S
Luxury sedan Motor Trend Car of the Year
The Model S turned Tesla into a real car maker, and it won Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year. Later, the Plaid version reached 60 mph in under 2 seconds. After 14 years, production finally ended in May 2026.
2015–2026
Tesla Model X
SUV Falcon-wing doors
The Model X brought the Model S technology to a seven-seat SUV, and its falcon-wing rear doors made it instantly recognizable. It was also discontinued in May 2026.
2017–2023
Tesla Model 3 (first generation)
Mass-market EV 325,000 reservations
When the Model 3 was unveiled in 2016, more than 325,000 people reserved one within a week. Its slow production ramp in 2017 and 2018 then nearly broke the company, although it went on to sell in huge numbers.
2020–2025
Tesla Model Y (first generation)
Crossover World’s best-seller
The first Model Y shared most of its parts with the Model 3, so Tesla could build it quickly. In 2023 it became the world’s best-selling car, the first electric car to do so.
2018
Roadster in space
Falcon Heavy Starman
In February 2018, SpaceX launched Elon Musk’s own red Roadster into orbit around the Sun on the first Falcon Heavy flight, with a spacesuited mannequin called Starman at the wheel. It became one of the most famous car photos ever taken.
Who Owns Tesla Cars?
Tesla cars come from Tesla, Inc., a public company listed on NASDAQ. There is no parent company; instead, the shares are held by investment funds, individual investors and Elon Musk, who is the largest individual shareholder. Tesla also owns its energy and factory-automation businesses outright, and since 2026 it has held a stake in SpaceX. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Shareholders Public shareholders NASDAQ: TSLA · Elon Musk is the largest individual shareholder
This page Tesla, Inc. Austin, Texas · Tesla cars, trucks, energy storage and Optimus
100% Tesla Energy Powerwall, Megapack and solar; includes the former SolarCity, bought in 2016
100% Tesla Automation Factory equipment maker, formerly Grohmann Engineering, bought in 2016
Stake SpaceX Tesla’s $2 billion investment in xAI was converted into SpaceX shares in 2026
Partners
Tesla builds most things itself, but it also works with a few key partners, and many other car makers now use its charging network.
- Panasonic (battery cells since 2010)
- SpaceX and xAI (Terafab chip-making project, announced 2026)
- Ford, GM and most other car makers (Supercharger access through the NACS plug)
In November 2025, Tesla shareholders also approved a pay package for Elon Musk that could be worth up to $1 trillion over 10 years, but only if very large targets are met.
Former partners and businesses
- Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler (2009–2014) Daimler invested $50 million in 2009 and then sold its stake in 2014 for about $780 million.
- Toyota (2010–2017) Toyota sold Tesla the Fremont factory and bought a stake, while the two developed the RAV4 EV together.
- Maxwell Technologies (2019–2021) A battery-technology company Tesla bought in 2019 and then sold in 2021.
- Tesla Motors (2003–2017) The original company name, until it became Tesla, Inc. in 2017.
Tesla Cars Accomplishments
The record of Tesla cars rests on scale, software and charging, because Tesla pushed the rest of the industry toward electric cars.
10 million
Vehicles built
Tesla built its 10 millionth vehicle, a Model Y, in Fremont in July 2026, only seven months after its 9 millionth.
2023
World’s best-selling car
The Model Y became the first electric car to be the best-selling car in the world.
2013
Motor Trend Car of the Year
The Model S won the award, and so it showed that an electric car could beat the best gas cars.
80,000
Supercharger stalls
The network reached 80,000 stalls worldwide in April 2026, when a big site opened in France.
J3400
Tesla’s plug became the standard
Tesla opened its charging plug design in 2022, and then SAE standardized it as J3400, so most car makers in North America have switched to it.
2010
First US car maker IPO since 1956
Tesla was the first American car maker to go public since Ford in 1956.
$1 trillion
Market value
In October 2021, Tesla became the first car maker valued at more than $1 trillion.
46.7 GWh
Energy storage in 2025
In addition to cars, Tesla deployed a record amount of Powerwall and Megapack battery storage.
Talk Tesla With Other Owners
Tesla owners have plenty to share, whether it is road-trip charging tips or a Cybertruck camping build. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a Tesla community space where owners and fans can compare models, share software updates and plan meetups.
- Model 3 and Model Y ownership
- Charging and road trips
- Software updates and FSD
- Cybertruck builds
- Battery health and range
- Wheels, tires and accessories
- Buying a used Model S or X
- Tesla meetups and events
Tesla Cars FAQ
Who founded Tesla?
Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla Motors on 1 July 2003. Elon Musk joined in 2004 as chairman and lead investor, and then became CEO in 2008. Since a 2009 settlement, Musk, J.B. Straubel and Ian Wright are also recognized as co-founders.
Who owns Tesla?
Tesla cars are made by Tesla, Inc., a public company listed on NASDAQ as TSLA. It has no parent company; instead, it is owned by its shareholders, and Elon Musk is the largest individual shareholder.
Where are Tesla cars made?
Tesla cars are built in Fremont, California, at Gigafactory Texas in Austin, at Gigafactory Shanghai in China and at Gigafactory Berlin in Germany. Meanwhile, Nevada builds batteries and the Semi truck.
Is Tesla discontinuing the Model S and Model X?
Yes. Elon Musk announced the end of both models in January 2026, and the last ones were built in May 2026. The Fremont line was then converted to build the Optimus robot.
What is the cheapest Tesla?
In the US, the cheapest of the Tesla cars in 2026 is the Model 3 Standard at $36,990, with 321 miles of range. The Model Y Standard follows at $39,990.
Is Tesla still the biggest electric car maker?
Not anymore. Tesla delivered 1,636,129 vehicles in 2025, while BYD sold about 2.26 million fully electric cars, so BYD took the lead. However, the Model Y is still one of the best-selling electric cars in the world.
Is there a new Tesla Roadster?
Yes, although it is late. The second-generation Roadster was first shown in 2017, and then Tesla set its final reveal for October 2026. Production is expected to follow after that.
What is the Tesla Cybercab?
The Cybercab is a two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals. It entered production at Gigafactory Texas in 2026, and Tesla began paid Cybercab rides in Austin in September 2026.
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Photo credits
- Header image: 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Red Tesla Model 3 (2023 facelift) at…: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White Tesla Model Y Premium, the 2025…: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, cropped and resized.
- Stealth Grey Tesla Model Y L six-seat…: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series at the…: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Tesla Semi electric truck parked at Tesla…: Steve Jurvetson from Menlo Park, USA, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Gold Tesla Cybercab driving on Interstate 280…: Daniel Lu (User:dllu), CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Red second-generation Tesla Roadster prototype at the…: Editor928111, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2008 Tesla Roadster on display at AutoRAI…: Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Tesla Model S parade at the first…: Flickr user jurvetson (Tim Draper/Steve Jurvetson), CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Grey 2017 Tesla Model X 100D photographed…: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- First-generation Tesla Model 3 at the 2018…: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2020 Tesla Model Y photographed by the…: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Tesla Roadster with the Starman mannequin in…: SpaceX, CC0, cropped and resized.