Tesla has achieved a significant milestone: the company has produced six million cars since 2005, when it introduced its first model, the Roadster, almost twenty years ago.
Initially, production began with a bank loan and 2,400 Roadsters hand-built at the Menlo Park Sales/Service location in California. This information was shared by Tesla Vice President Finance, Sendil Palani.
Following that, production expanded to include the Model S sedan at the Fremont factory, marking Tesla’s first “high volume” vehicle. At the time, the goal of manufacturing 20,000 vehicles annually seemed ambitious. Fast forward to today, celebrating the production of six million cars is a remarkable achievement for a company that was virtually nonexistent just over two decades ago.
Tesla’s lineup has consisted of six models so far: the Roadster (awaiting its second generation), Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and the Cybertruck, which has been in production since July 2023.
Renowned for its innovative ideas and charismatic CEO, Elon Musk, Tesla has built a formidable reputation around its S3XY lineup. To commemorate this milestone, Tesla released a video on X showcasing its employees at the Fremont factory alongside the six millionth car, a Model Y painted in Stealth Gray.
The Model Y, which became the world’s best-selling car in 2023, marks a significant milestone as the first electric vehicle to claim this title. In a post on X, Tesla expressed gratitude to its customers and employees worldwide, emphasizing the importance of their contributions. Elon Musk also shared the post, congratulating the team.
The production of the five millionth car occurred in mid-September 2023, just six months after Tesla announced its four millionth car. While it took Tesla 12 years to produce the first one million cars, it accelerated production significantly, reaching two million cars in July 2022.
Tesla has expanded its production capacity significantly, with Giga Shanghai capable of producing up to 750,000 units annually and Giga Berlin reaching a production rate of 6,000 units per week.
In November 2023, BYD celebrated its six millionth car milestone, competing with Tesla for the title of the best-selling electric car manufacturer in 2023. Despite fierce competition, Tesla secured victory with an 18.2 percent market share, while BYD settled for a 16.5 percent share of the BEV market.
