What is TESLA? Electric Car Manufacturer

The company's Model S was the world's best-selling plug-in electric car in 2015 and 2016.

Tesla began with a sports car aimed at early adopters followed by mainstream and mass market vehicles,all serving "as a catalyst to accelerate the day of electric vehicles".

Tesla aims to disrupt the automotive industry by creating many innovative pieces that fit together; this strategy was called "complex coordination" by Tesla investor Peter Thiel. Its marketing, production, sales and technology strategies all are notably different from its competitors.

The battery and electric drive train technology for each model would be developed and paid for through sales of the earlier models. The Roadster was low-volume and priced at US$109,000. Model S and Model X targeted the broader luxury market. Model 3 is aimed at a higher-volume segment. 

Tesla's automotive strategy is to emulate typical technological-product life cycles and initially target affluent buyers. It would then move into larger markets at lower price points.

This business strategy is common in the technology industry. According to a Musk blog post, "New technology in any field takes a few versions to optimize before reaching the mass market, and in this case it is competing with 150 years and trillions of dollars spent on gasoline cars."

Tesla makes two kinds of electric motors: an induction motor with three phase, four pole AC and copper rotor and permanent magnet motors used in the Model 3 and Semi. Motors for the Model S and Model X are made at Tesla Factory, while motors for Model 3 are made at Giga factory 1.