Over the last 20 years, Tesla has grown from a niche electric vehicle startup to an automotive giant that now sells roughly 2 million electric cars each year. But the company, led by CEO Elon Musk, is much more than a carmaker.
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For electric vehicle (EV) buyers who might be put off by the challenges facing Tesla (including safety issues and the bombast of its billionaire CEO), rivals like the smaller California startup Rivian offer an alternative. This article from Inside EVs breaks down how and why Rivian is seen in some circles as the anti-Tesla. This is due in part to its personalized customer service and distinctive vehicles, such as its trucks and SUVs.
Over the last 20 years, Tesla has grown from a niche electric vehicle startup to an automotive giant that now sells roughly 2 million electric cars each year. But the company, led by CEO Elon Musk, is much more than a carmaker. Want to learn more about the company that brought electric vehicles into the mainstream? Check out 1440's explainer video here.
Tesla is often described as a car manufacturer. But, as this NPR article shows, that description ignores major components of the company’s philosophy and overall mission. Tesla isn’t just a car company, as was made clear during its 2023 Investor Day presentation. Its master plan also includes a focus on promoting a global transition toward sustainable energy, and decarbonizing the automotive industry and the global electric grid.
By firing thousands of laser pulses in all directions, lidar systems construct 3D maps of a car’s surroundings, even in environments with limited lighting. The technology has also been incorporated into iPhones and the Vision Pro headset to improve camera focus.
Founded in 2003, and inspired by the limited success of electric vehicles like General Motors' EV1, the Elon Musk-led Tesla has grown into a leader in the global electric vehicle market over the past two decades. Starting with the Roadster in 2008, Tesla has expanded its product line to include the Model S, Model X, and Model 3. The company went public in 2010 and has since grown to become the most valuable automaker in the world.
The league and high-speed versions of traditional cars help to showcase the capabilities of driverless vehicles and the reliability of their AI systems. Leonardo da Vinci first imagined the idea for such machines in the 16th century.
Elon Musk is one of the most visible business leaders in the world as a result of his leadership at carmaker Tesla, rocket builder SpaceX, and X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. Every day, stories circulate about his undeniable accomplishments alongside his more unpredictable eccentricities. So what are the basic facts about this larger-than-life entrepreneur? Find out with this straightforward, brief look at Musk's life.
Since Musk acquired the platform, impression, quality, and satisfaction scores have all turned negative—reflecting widespread disapproval among former and current users. As of fall 2024, despite the reputational damage, X remains the sixth-most-visited website globally.
At level 0, a vehicle cannot intervene on its own, and the driver controls all navigation. At level 3, the car operates autonomously under limited conditions, but a human can still take control. A future level 5 vehicle drives itself and lacks a steering wheel or pedals.
The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery-powered electric pickup truck that began production in November 2023. First unveiled as a concept vehicle in November 2019, showcasing a distinctive design characterized by sharp angles and a stainless steel exterior resembling low-polygon modeling. This unique design has drawn both admiration and criticism since its introduction, and its unveiling was the result of a years-long process to overturn traditional vehicle design concepts.
The United States is home to more than 33 million businesses, the vast majority of which are small businesses, with millions being created (and others closing shop) every year. These businesses often rely on loans, provide the goods and services that keep the economy flowing, and sometimes even grow large enough to enter public markets or provide private investment opportunities. Explore key topics central to business and finance, from the role of the Federal Reserve to how initial public offerings work, how millions of American students finance higher education, and more.