Tesla

Tesla, Inc. is an American manufacturer of electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and solar products headquartered in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in San Carlos, California, the company has grown from a startup focused on high-performance electric sports cars into a vertically integrated energy company serving global markets.

The company's early trajectory centered on proving that electric vehicles could compete on performance and range. The 2008 launch of the Tesla Roadster demonstrated this capability, achieving 245 miles on a single charge with acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. This proof of concept attracted significant investment and talent, particularly when Elon Musk joined as Chairman in 2004 after investing $30 million in Series A funding. Musk became CEO in October 2008 and has led the company through multiple growth phases since.

Tesla's shift toward mass-market production began with the Model S sedan in 2012, followed by the Model 3 in 2017, which marked the transition to volume manufacturing and affordability. The company went public in 2010, raising $226 million in its IPO. A defining milestone came in 2014 with the announcement of Gigafactory 1 in Nevada, initiating large-scale battery production and vertical integration that reduced costs and enabled rapid scaling. By 2017, Tesla Motors officially changed its name to Tesla, Inc., reflecting its evolution beyond automotive manufacturing into energy infrastructure.

Over the past five years, Tesla has substantially expanded its operational footprint and product offerings. The company relocated its headquarters to Austin, Texas, reflecting geographic diversification and operational scaling. The Supercharger network has grown to over 15,000 locations across the United States and Canada as of February 2025, with access extended to Ford EV customers, signaling both network maturation and strategic partnerships. The company has diversified into solar and energy storage product lines, launched in 2015, positioning itself across renewable energy infrastructure. Looking ahead, Tesla has announced plans to reintroduce the Roadster sports car expected in 2025 and to unveil its Robotaxi platform, indicating continued product line expansion.

As of December 2025, Tesla operates a global network of manufacturing facilities, Supercharger charging stations, and service centers across multiple continents. The company maintains multiple Gigafactory locations for battery and vehicle production, with operations spanning the United States, Canada, and international markets with EV infrastructure demand. Tesla's real estate footprint encompasses manufacturing plants, retail locations, service centers, and charging infrastructure, making it a significant player in commercial real estate across industrial, retail, and infrastructure development sectors. The company's vertically integrated business model, which combines direct-to-consumer sales with proprietary charging networks and energy products, creates a distinctive real estate profile that differs markedly from traditional automotive retailers and appeals to developers and landlords evaluating long-term tenant stability and operational scale.