2009 Tesla Roadster

At Tesla Motors, we decided to change perceptions of electric vehicles in a big way.  To make electric cars a viable alternative, we set out to build one that was gorgeous and thrilling to drive.  

Our first car, the Tesla Roadster, isn't a pipedream or a plan; this car exists now.  It's a no-compromise driver's car that does 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and will hit a top speed of nearly twice what the law permits.  With a range of about 220 miles on a single charge, you can use it all day long and not worry you'll run out of juice.  Just plug it in at night the same way you would drop your cell phone into its charger, and sleep well, without guilt.  

EPA-certified performance statistics:

100% electric  

135 mpg equivalent  

Less than 2 cents per mile  

While the Tesla Roadster's sticker price is in a league with other high-performance sports cars with similar specs, we recognize it's out of reach for a lot of people.  We consciously chose to develop a high-end sports car as our first car in order to develop the "performance DNA" from which we could develop other electric vehicles.  Our next model will leverage the Tesla Roadster's technology, resulting in a less expensive sports sedan that we can sell at a higher volume.