Tesla, founded by superstar Elon Musk, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In two decades, Tesla has gone from a startup with a vision to a global automotive leader in innovation and sustainability. Here are some of the milestones and achievements that have shaped Tesla’s journey and impact on the auto industry today.

The beginning: Roadster and Model S

Tesla was founded in 2003 by a group of engineers who wanted to prove that electric vehicles could be better, faster and more fun than gasoline cars. The company’s first product was the Roadster, a sleek sports car that could go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and had a range of 245 miles on a single charge. The Roadster was launched in 2008 and sold about 2,500 units worldwide.

The Roadster was followed by the Model S, a luxury sedan that debuted in 2012. The Model S set new standards for performance, safety, and design in the electric car market. It won numerous awards, including Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, and became the best-selling plug-in electric car in the US in 2015 and 2016.

The expansion: Model X, Model 3 and Model Y

Tesla continued to expand its product line with the Model X, a crossover SUV unveiled in 2015. The Model X featured falcon-wing doors, a panoramic windshield, and a spacious interior. It also had impressive capabilities, such as a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a range of up to 325 miles.

The Model 3, a more affordable and mass-market sedan, was announced in 2016 and delivered to customers in 2017. The Model 3 was designed to be the most efficient and safest car in its class, with a range of up to 353 miles and a top speed of 162 mph. It also had a minimalist and futuristic interior, with a single touchscreen as the main control panel.

The Model Y, a compact SUV based on the Model 3 platform, was revealed in 2019 and started shipping in 2020. The Model Y offered more space, versatility, and functionality than the Model 3, with a seating capacity of up to seven people and a cargo volume of up to 68 cubic feet.

The innovation: Autopilot, Supercharger, and Battery Day

Tesla has also been at the forefront of innovation in technology, infrastructure, and energy. One of its most notable features is Autopilot, an advanced driver assistance system that enables the car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane. Autopilot also includes features such as Navigate on Autopilot, which can guide the car from on-ramp to off-ramp on highways, and Full Self-Driving Capability, which can handle complex scenarios such as traffic lights, stop signs and roundabouts.

Tesla has also built a network of Superchargers, fast-charging stations that can replenish the battery of a Tesla car in minutes. As of June 2021, there are over 25,000 Superchargers across the world, covering most major routes and destinations.

In September 2020, Tesla held its Battery Day event, where it announced its plans to produce its own batteries and reduce the cost per kilowatt-hour by more than 50%. Tesla also unveiled its new battery cell design, called the 4680 cell, which has five times more energy capacity, six times more power output, and 16% more range than its previous cells.

The future: Cybertruck, Semi and Roadster

Tesla has not stopped innovating and creating new products for the future. In November 2019, Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck, a futuristic pickup truck with a stainless steel body, an armored glass windshield, and a ramp extending from the tailgate. Cybertrucks have been seen rolling around the Fremont factory with production rumored to commence soon. The Tesla Semi, an electric truck that can haul up to 80,000 pounds and travel up to 500 miles on a single charge and has been deployed in small numbers with Pepsicola.

Finally, Tesla is planning to launch a new version of the Roadster, which will be the fastest car ever made by Tesla. The new Roadster will have a top speed of over 250 mph, an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and a range of over 600 miles. The new Roadster debut date is unknown.

Tesla has come a long way since its inception in 2003. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, Tesla has revolutionized the electric car industry and challenged the status quo of the automotive world. Tesla has not only created groundbreaking products but also inspired millions of people to embrace a more sustainable and exciting future. Happy anniversary Tesla and keep on keepin’ on.

Electrified Mag’s Take: Like most success stories, they rarely happen overnight. Elon Musk went through twenty years of skepticism, sleepless nights, and a lengthy stay in “production hell.” Today, Tesla is the darling of the automotive world and can seemingly do no wrong, but the next decade or so isn’t going to be without challenges. The company came of age with no competition, but the next five years will see an invasion of competitive products from the world’s legacy OEMs as well as an onslaught of Chinese upstart companies. 

According to this report, “GM, Ford, and Stellantis are expected to launch a combined 37 new electric vehicles in the U.S. market by 2025, compared to Tesla’s 10. This would increase their combined EV market share from 12% in 2020 to 34% in 2025, while Tesla’s share would drop from 79% to 52%. The report also predicts that GM, Ford, and Stellantis will achieve higher average transaction prices and profit margins than Tesla by 2025, thanks to their economies of scale, lower battery costs, and loyal customer base.”

Tesla fanatics envision a world with one automaker and a Steve Jobs clone at the helm. A monopoly that controls tech standards and recharging infrastructure as well. Yet, a key tenant of capitalism, “Competition breeds the best product at the lowest cost for the consumer,” has never been more pertinent than today, If the goal is climate attenuation and cleaner cars, the world needs a multiplayer automotive industry with fierce competition. To attain the transition to clean mobility, all the world’s carmakers need to be on board. 

So grab a chair and let’s watch the biggest transformation in automotive history unfold before us. Having said all that, happy anniversary, and kudos to Tesla for injecting competition into the automotive arena. May the best company win.