Tesla, Inc. grew from a 2003 startup founded as Tesla Motors by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning into a major American automotive and clean energy company associated with manufacturing in California, Shanghai, near Berlin, and Texas. After early backing from Elon Musk and the addition of Ian Wright and J. B. Straubel, the company pursued a strategy of starting with a high-end sports car before moving into broader vehicle markets. Its Roadster, Model S, Model 3, and later models helped establish it as a leading electric-vehicle maker, while battery storage and solar products broadened its reach. Rapid growth, global expansion, and intense scrutiny made it a defining force in electric vehicles and clean energy.