It’s common knowledge that Tesla isn’t just the hottest car company in the world - it’s also a technology enterprise, an energy storage manufacturer, an AI developer, and so much more. Tesla is simply a challenger of innovation, relentlessly creating amazing new tech that ignites interest and intrigue around the world. So if you thought you knew everything there is to know about this fantastic company, brace yourself, because these 20 fascinating facts are about to blow your mind.

1. A Lightning Bolt of Inspiration

You may think that Tesla, Inc. is named after its famous CEO, Elon Musk, but you’d be wrong. The company is actually named after the brilliant Serbian-American inventor, Nikola Tesla. His innovations in electrical engineering laid the groundwork for modern alternating-current electric systems. It’s a fitting tribute to a pioneer whose name now represents cutting-edge technology and sustainable energy. Pretty cool, right?

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2. An Ambitious Roadster in Space

In February 2018, Tesla sent a literal car into space. No, we’re not joking. And it wasn’t just any car, but it was the Tesla Roadster with a mannequin nicknamed “Starman” at the wheel. This extraordinary publicity stunt was part of the Falcon Heavy test flight. The Roadster is orbiting the sun, playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on loop forever until the end of its days. It’s a strange but remarkable testament to Tesla’s audacity and its symbol of human aspiration. 

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3. Elon Musk: Not the Founder, but the Game-Changer

Contrary to popular belief, Elon Musk wasn’t one of the original founders of Tesla. The company was actually started by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. Musk joined the board of directors as chairman in 2004, after making a significant investment in the company. However, thanks to his transformative vision, relentless ambition, and fearless risk-taking, he has been pivotal in Tesla’s growth and success, shaping it into the global icon it is today. 

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4. Tesla’s EV Dominance

Tesla isn’t just leading the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it’s completely dominating it! As of late 2022, Tesla accounted for nearly 80% of all EVs sold in the United States, overshadowing all competitors such as the Chevy Bolt and the Nissan Leaf. Moreover, the Tesla Model 3 has become the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, solidifying Tesla’s position at the front of the EV industry. But is any of that really all that surprising?

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5. Supercharging Network: A Key to Tesla’s Success

A major factor in Tesla’s dominance of the EV market is its impressive and extensive Supercharger network. As the largest fast-charging network in the entire world, it allows Tesla owners to recharge their cars much more rapidly than conventional charging stations. This solves the “range anxiety” problem that many potential EV buyers face. It’s a clever strategy that has positioned Tesla as the most user-friendly, practical choice for electric mobility.

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6. Patents for All

In 2014, in a radical move to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport, Elon Musk announced that Tesla would open up access to its patents. This means that other companies can use Tesla’s technology to develop and improve their own electric vehicles. While it’s certainly a daring decision, this unusual step truly highlights Tesla’s commitment to the bigger picture - a sustainable, eco-friendly future for all.

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7. The Art of Over-the-Air Updates

Tesla cars are designed to improve over time with regular software updates, just like your smartphone. These Over-the-Air (OTA) updates can add new features, enhance existing ones, fix any bugs, and even boost the car’s performance and efficiency. No need to take your car into a shop when updates are downloaded and installed while you sleep! This is a significant differentiator in the auto industry that fully represents Tesla’s approach to continuous improvement and innovation.

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8. Autopilot: Towards a Self-Driving Future

Tesla is at the forefront of developing autonomous driving technology. Their Autopilot system, although not fully autonomous as of 2023, provides advanced driver-assistance features like self-parking, adaptive cruise control, and lane steering. As it collects more and more data, it continues to refine its machine-learning algorithm. This just means Tesla is slowly inching closer to its goal of achieving full self-driving capability.Photo by Bram Van Oost on Unsplash

9. Tesla Energy: Powering a Sustainable Future

It should be clear now that Tesla isn’t just about cars - it’s also an energy company. Tesla Energy provides solar energy generation and storage products, aiming to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. With products like solar panels, solar roofs, and the Powerwall home battery, Tesla is reimagining how energy is produced, stored, and consumed, charting a greener path for our planet.

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10. The Gigafactory: A Production Powerhouse

The Gigafactory, Tesla’s massive battery plant in Nevada, is one of the largest buildings in the world by footprint. It plays a vital role in Tesla’s ambitions, producing battery cells, electric motors, and drive units for the Model 3 and Model Y. It’s part of Tesla’s plan to reduce the cost of batteries and electric vehicles, an incredibly crucial step towards making EVs accessible to everyone. The Gigafactory’s production capacity is a testament to Tesla’s technological prowess and its commitment to scaling up electric mobility. 

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11. Tesla’s “Master Plan”

In a rare move for a company, Tesla publicly outlined its long-term strategy in a blog post called the “Master Plan” back in 2006, which was later updated in 2016 with a “Part Deux”. The first plan involved four main steps: build a sports car (the Roadster), use that money to build an affordable car (the Model S and Model X), use that money to build an even more affordable car (the Model 3 and Model Y), and provide zero-emission electric power generation options. The second part involves creating a smoothly integrated and beautiful solar-roof-with-battery product, expanding the electric vehicle product line, and transitioning to self-driving. There's a lot to look forward to!

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12. The Safest Cars on the Road

Tesla cars aren’t just innovative - they’re also incredibly safe. The Model S, Model 3, and Model X have all received 5-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US. In fact, the Model 3 has the lowest probability of injury of all cars ever tested by NHTSA! That’s pretty amazing. Tesla’s focus on safety goes hand-in-hand with its mission to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. After all, what good is a revolutionary car if it’s not safe to drive?

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13. Bioweapon Defense Mode

Tesla cars come with a feature that sounds like it’s coming straight out of a science fiction movie: Bioweapon Defense Mode. It sounds like it belongs in a tank! Part of the HEPA air filtration system, this feature can remove at least 99.97% of particulate exhaust pollution and effectively all allergens, bacteria, and other contaminants from cabin air. Elon Musk has said this feature is particularly useful in cities with high levels of pollution, giving drivers and passengers the cleanest air possible. 

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14. Ludicrous Mode

Another example of Tesla’s spirit of fun and innovation is its famously named “Ludicrous Mode”. This performance upgrade, available only in some Tesla models, allows the car to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds! It’s a playful nod to the speed-of-light spaceship drive in the movie Spaceballs and represents the thrilling performance capabilities of electric vehicles. 

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15. The Cybertruck

In 2019, Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck, a futuristic electric pickup truck that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. With its angular design and stainless-steel “exo-skeleton”, the Cybertruck is a striking departure from traditional pickup trucks. But it’s not all about looks: with impressive off-road capabilities, a durable exterior, and a powerful electric drivetrain, the Cybertruck is built to be as tough and versatile as any pickup truck, all while being far more sustainable. 

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16. Vertical Integration

Tesla’s approach to manufacturing is quite unique in the auto industry as one can likely imagine. It is one of the most vertically integrated car companies in the world, meaning it produces many of its own parts rather than relying on supply chains. This gives Tesla numerous benefits: greater control over the quality, cost, and timing of its production. Although, it does also come with significant operational complexities too.

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17. Tesla’s Semi

Tesla is not just revolutionizing passenger vehicles, but also aiming to transform commercial transportation. The Tesla Semi is an all-electric freight truck with a range of up to 500 miles per charge. If it becomes widely adopted, the Semi could significantly reduce the environmental impact of freight transport and demonstrate the viability and benefit of electric power for heavy-duty vehicles. 

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18. The Boring Company Connection

Tesla has a close connection with The Boring Company, another one of Elon Musk’s ventures. The Boring Company aims to solve urban traffic congestion by creating a network of tunnels where electric vehicles, especially Teslas, can travel at high speeds on electric skates. If this becomes successful, this could create a synergistic effect that further enhances the appeal and utility of Tesla vehicles. 

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19. SolarCity Acquisition

Tesla’s ambition to become a sustainable energy company took a major step forward with its acquisition of SolarCity in 2016. As one of the largest installers of solar energy systems in the US, SolarCity was a natural fit for Tesla’s clean energy mission. The acquisition enabled Tesla to offer an integrated sustainable energy solution to consumers, combining electric vehicles, solar energy, and energy storage. 

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20. Robotaxis

Tesla is not just thinking about the future of private car ownership, but they’re also envisioning a future of shared, autonomous vehicles. Elon Musk has talked about a future “robotaxi” network where Tesla owners can add their autonomous-capable cars to a shared fleet, earning money when they’re not using their vehicles. While it’s definitely a difficult concept to wrap your head around, we can’t deny the appeal. While full autonomy and regulatory approval are still in the works as of 2023, it’s definitely an interesting glimpse into the future of transportation as envisioned by Tesla.

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Now that you’ve learned more about Tesla, you can see that innovation, audacity, and profound commitment to a sustainable future are the hallmarks of Tesla, Inc. With Elon Musk heading the company, it’s clear that the company is in good hands. Blazing a trail unlike any other, we hope Tesla continues to illuminate a path toward a cleaner, greener, and electrified world.