Mars



Aarushi Saha



Tesla was founded in 2003, a little over a decade ago. They are extremely successful, their company now worth over $28 billion. The last successful American Car startup, was founded 111 years ago, and it was Ford. It is worth $54 billion, only twice as much the amount Tesla is worth, yet they have been around a century longer.

Tesla was made because a group of engineers thought that electric cars were better than gasoline cars. They wanted to make efficient, but fast cars. Gasoline has poisonous chemicals called hydrocarbons in them, which can cause lung cancer to humans, and cause global warming. The cars have almost instant torque, zero emissions, and the power of sports cars. The first Tesla model was designed as a roadster, which was an instant success. The roadster has a sports car design and was the first Tesla car, and it had a 0 mph to 60 mph in 6 seconds, one of the fastest accelerations at the time. The Model S has a 0 to 60 acceleration of 3.7 seconds, the fastest time in history. For each charge on the lithium ion battery, the car can travel 245 miles average, but the roadster set a record traveling 311 miles on a single charge.

The Tesla Motors we know today also focuses on balancing our usage of oils, and wants people to switch to solar power and electricity. Tesla manufactures solar panels designed to look like regular roofing shingles instead of the big rectangular panels, called the Solar Roof. Along with the Solar Roof, Tesla created a solar energy storage unit called Powerwall, which stores the unused solar energy. Powerpack is a separate item that provides electricity for buildings, but gives people more control on how efficiently they use the electricity.

A few years later in 2012, the Model S came out, with a 0 to 60 mph jump of 3.2 seconds, half a second faster than the Roadster, giving the car the fastest acceleration time of any sedan. Holding 7 people in the car, it can hold as many people as a full-sized SUV. The car has a spacious interior, and achieved 5 stars from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for safety in 2016.

Just a few months ago, the Model X came out, Tesla's first SUV. It has been a big hit. This vehicle functions like a computer on the inside, with over-the-air updates on safety and navigational features. With parking sensors and blind spot sensors, the car gives warnings to the driver whenever something gets too close for comfort. Falcon Wing doors on the Model X allow people to get out of the car easier, opening up instead of sideways.

Tesla Motors has flourished over their 13 years of existence, manufacturing more cars and innovative ideas for the general public to use, and explore. Their three car products, the Roadster, Model S, and Model X have all been hits, and what comes out next will probably be a big hit as well.

Tesla seems to flourish, but on the inside of their company, they are also having trouble with money and deciding on what their main production will be. Tesla burns through 400 million dollar quarterly, and that’s before the company buys the parts needed to build 300,000 cars annually. Erik Gordon, professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, suggested giving more stock would most likely be the best way to raise cash. If they don’t make enough, the company could go bankrupt. The 2017 “Gigafactory is also a dilemma for Tesla. The factory will generate lithium-ion products to their customers beyond the cars, such as the Powerwall and Powerpack.

As a young company, Tesla does well, and they continue their journey trying to get people to use sustainable energy sources.