It’s been just over 20 years since the founding of Tesla on July 1, 2003. In that time, the automaker has revolutionized the automotive industry in ways that not even its most bullish supporters would have imagined. With that in mind, how do you feel about one of the most polarizing car companies on the planet?
Today, Tesla tends to split opinions among those who fancy themselves interested in the automotive world. Some fans are so die-hard that they defend questionable practices, decisions, and designs no matter what. On the other hand, those who bemoan the brand seem to believe that Tesla can do no good.
The truth, as is often the case, is likely somewhere in the murky middle. Tesla’s first half-decade in business was rocky. It launched the Roadster but not without changing up pricing on initially interested buyers. By 2012, it had finished production of the Roadster and started production of the Model S.
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In 2014, the company announced one of the most controversial features in its history; Autopilot. In 2015, it began building the Powerwall and launched the Tesla Model X SUV. The brand moved quickly. Sometimes too quickly in terms of promising features quicker than it could deliver them. Today, almost a decade after its initial introduction, Autopilot is still the subject of much debate as well as investigation by the authorities.
In 2017, Tesla launched the Model 3, and then three years later it dropped the Model Y. Over the years it’s become a gigantic force in the industry. Many would admit that if not for Tesla, the transition to electric cars wouldn’t be taking place like it has. It proved that EVs didn’t have to be ugly, slow, or short-range only.
Without Tesla, we might not have cars like the Rimac Nevera and we almost certainly wouldn’t have the Lucid Air, the Rivian R1T, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Kia EV6 GT, or many more modern-day rivals. At the same time, its CEO Elon Musk has himself caused much consternation that some might consider not worth the gains the automotive industry has seen.
What’s your opinion now that Tesla is just over 20 years old? Let us know in the comments below.
