The Untold Story of Tesla’s Birth

Think you know Tesla? Think again.
Behind every electric mile driven today lies a wild origin story filled with unexpected twists, secret decisions, and little-known facts that shaped the world’s most controversial and revolutionary car company.

🔥 1. Tesla Wasn’t Founded by Elon Musk

Yes, you read that right. Tesla Motors was actually founded in 2003 by two engineers: Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk didn’t join until 2004, when he invested $6.5 million and became chairman of the board. It wasn’t until years later that Musk became the face (and force) of the company.

💡 Insider Fact: Elon Musk is not considered a "founder" by SEC standards. He sued to be officially listed as one — and won.

⚙️ 2. The Original Tesla Roadster Used a Lotus Body

Tesla’s first car, the Roadster (2008), wasn’t entirely homegrown. It was actually built on the Lotus Elise chassis, modified to fit Tesla’s electric powertrain. It was a clever hack to get a car to market fast without building from scratch.

🛠️ Hidden Gem: Tesla had to redesign over 600 parts of the Elise to make it work — including reinforcing the frame to handle the weight of the battery pack.

🧪 3. The Model S Almost Didn’t Happen

The now-iconic Model S was nearly killed during the 2008 financial crisis. Tesla was running out of money, fast. Elon Musk famously had to choose between funding Tesla or SpaceX — and split his remaining cash between both.

💬 He later said: “I was betting the company on each payroll.”

🚫 4. No Marketing, No Problem

Tesla doesn’t spend a dime on traditional advertising. No TV ads, no glossy magazine spreads. Instead, they rely on word of mouth, viral stunts (like launching a Roadster into space), and the cult of Elon to drive attention.

📊 Stat Shock: In 2024, Tesla spent $0 on ads, while legacy automakers spent billions — and Tesla still outsold many of them.

🔋 5. Hidden Range Boosts in Software

During hurricanes and wildfires, Tesla has remotely unlocked extra range on some vehicles. That’s right — certain models have software-locked battery capacity that can be temporarily boosted in emergencies.

🚨 Real Example: In 2017, Florida Tesla owners got an automatic 30-40 mile boost to escape Hurricane Irma.

🧠 6. Tesla's Are Recording Everything (Almost)

Every Tesla has dozens of onboard cameras and sensors recording the world around it. These systems collect data for Autopilot training, crash forensics, and even security through Sentry Mode.

👀 Little-Known Trick: If someone even leans on your Tesla, it starts recording — and will notify you through the app.

🛰️ 7. Tesla's Use SpaceX Tech

Yes, Tesla and SpaceX share technology, engineers, and even materials. The aluminum alloy used in SpaceX’s rockets helped improve Tesla’s frame design — making the cars both lighter and stronger.

🧪 Fun Fact: Tesla’s in-house AI chips were designed with help from SpaceX’s hardware teams.

🌍 8. Tesla Nearly Became a Battery Company

Before making cars, Elon Musk considered turning Tesla into a battery supplier. The goal was to sell high-performance lithium-ion batteries to other car companies.

⚡ Irony: Now, other car companies are racing to buy batteries that compete with Tesla’s.

💥 Final Thought:

Tesla isn’t just a car company — it’s a tech, energy, AI, robotics, and space company disguised as an automaker. Its origin story is far messier, riskier, and more fascinating than most people realize.

✅ Did You Know All These?

If even one of these facts surprised you, you’re not alone. Most people only know the “Musk Myth.” Now you know the real Tesla story — and why it’s only just beginning.