How did Tesla Motors start?

Tesla Motors (now just Tesla) started in July 2003 when Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded it. Their initial goal was to prove that electric cars could be high-performance, desirable vehicles, rather than the slow, underpowered options available at the time. They chose the name "Tesla" to honor Nikola Tesla, a brilliant but under-appreciated inventor who made significant contributions to the development of alternating current electricity.

While Eberhard and Tarpenning laid the groundwork, Elon Musk's significant investment and eventual leadership dramatically shaped the company's trajectory. He joined the board in 2004 and became the CEO in 2008, bringing considerable funding and a visionary perspective that focused on mass production and a broader market reach, ultimately transforming Tesla into the globally recognized electric vehicle giant it is today. Therefore, while the company's origin lies with Eberhard and Tarpenning's vision, Musk's involvement was crucial in its evolution and success.