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Company
Tesla is founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. -
Funding
Elon Musk leads the company's $7.5 million Series A financing round and becomes chairman of the board -
Fundings
Elon Musk injects $13 million more into the company in a Series B round during the development of the yet-announced Tesla Roadster -
Legal
On July 11, Tesla signs production contract for Lotus to manufacture complete cars for what would later become the Tesla Roadster. -
Fundings
Elon Musk and Technology Partners raise $40 million in a Series C round for Tesla -
Team
Ze'ev Drori becomes CEO and President. -
product
Tesla starts producing the Roadster. -
Product
Tesla announces the Model S on June 30, with a starting price of $50,000 -
Team
Tesla hires Franz von Holzhausen as its chief designer. He is involved in the design of the Tesla Model S.