Tesla is an instantly recognizable car brand, and even though it seems like the company has been around forever, it actually began selling the Roadster in 2008. In the years following the Roadster’s launch, the company has released new EV models that have completely revolutionized the electric vehicle industry.
Thanks to Tesla’s groundbreaking electric vehicles, EVs are no longer considered slow cars with subpar range. Legacy automakers are now trying to catch up thanks to the major impact Tesla’s products have had. Let’s explore Tesla’s most revolutionary contributions to the automotive industry.
1. Accelerated Mass EV Adoption
There were already EVs before Tesla. Electric cars date back to the late 1800s, but it’s undeniable that Tesla has had an immense influence in accelerating the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Before Tesla, electric vehicles were seen as cumbersome to use, slow, and lacking range.
The best example of this is GM’s EV1, which was packed with technology but highly limited in its execution, mostly due to the battery technology of the time. Tesla’s first EV was a low-volume sports car, which immediately began shattering people’s preconceived notions regarding EVs.
Another major critique against EVs was the lack of a national charging infrastructure. Tesla helped make EVs a viable option as everyday vehicles by offering cars supported by a robust charging network that has been expanded to cover most parts of the developed world.
These game-changing offerings forced other manufacturers to accelerate their EV projects and bring viable electric vehicles to market at decent prices.
2. Made Electric Cars Cool
Before Tesla, many people associated electric vehicles with the Toyota Prius hybrid. The Prius was a revolutionary vehicle when the first generation model rolled out in 1997, but its performance was nowhere near what Tesla offers in its EVs—the 2023 Toyota Prius is much quicker and sportier than previous generations, though.
Tesla has introduced some of the coolest vehicles the automotive world has ever seen, like the Tesla Roadster 2.0, forever dispelling the myth that EVs can’t be performance cars.
When the Tesla Model X launched, it featured the fanciest doors ever outfitted on an SUV. It was a sight to behold when the Model X’s falcon doors opened upward to reveal the SUV’s modern interior. From the start, it was clear that Teslas were designed to be more than mere transportation appliances.
3. Created the Performance EV
Tesla shattered the perception that electric vehicles are slow. The Model S Plaid is one of the quickest-accelerating vehicles in automotive history, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 1.99 seconds. Tesla’s vehicle lineup is filled with performance EVs, and even the heavy Model X Plaid can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
Electric vehicles weren’t renowned for their acceleration figures, especially hybrids from Toyota and Honda. But Tesla has always been about performance, and the Model S Plaid even held the record as one of the fastest EVs around the Nürburgring. The Model 3 in particular has won the hearts of car enthusiasts the world over with its great performance. Even the Cybertruck, a heavy pickup truck, promises extreme performance figures and good handling.
4. Provides Free Over-the-Air Updates
Tesla offers over-the-air updates to keep your vehicle up to date with the latest functionality. You can check for any new updates from your Tesla’s central touchscreen and download them via Wi-Fi. Most people would associate this kind of software upgrade dynamic with a smartphone, but the fact that Tesla has implemented over-the-air updates in its cars is revolutionary.
Over-the-air updates can help make an owner’s life easier, especially since it means your Tesla can be fixed remotely, without the need to set foot in a dealership if there’s no physical damage done to the car.
5. Developed Advanced Self-Driving Tech
Tesla isn’t the only automaker working on self-driving technology, but Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) are quite possibly the most famous driver assistance systems on the market. Many people believe that Tesla vehicles can operate completely autonomously, especially if you’ve seen clips of the latest version of FSD. This isn’t the case yet, as Teslas require driver intervention even when FSD is active.
Another neat feature of Tesla vehicles is Summon, which allows you to control your car via the mobile app to move it out of tight spaces without you actually being in the car.
Even though you can’t sit in the back seat of your Tesla while it drives you to your favorite coffee shop on FSD, the technology is getting better every day.
6. Built a Global Supercharger Network
One of the biggest arguments against electric cars revolves around an insufficient and unreliable infrastructure. Tesla took it upon itself to make sure the vehicles it sold would be able to embark on cross-country trips. The result is a massive charging network that offers charging speeds up to 250 kW. Tesla states that there are over 40,000 Supercharger locations across the globe.
This might be Tesla’s greatest contribution to the advancement of electric vehicle adoption because the Supercharger network makes electric vehicles practical in the real world.
7. Constantly Monitors Consumer Feedback
Tesla is unique among automakers in that consumers have a direct line of communication with the company’s leadership. In this case, it’s Elon Musk’s Twitter account.
The best example of this is Dog Mode, which is one of Tesla’s coolest climate control features. Dog Mode was originally proposed to Elon Musk by a Twitter user, and Musk responded with a quick “Yes”. This type of interaction with customers sets Tesla apart.
8. Favors a Direct to Customer Sales Model
Automotive dealerships have been a staple of car sales for what seems like forever. Tesla decided to go a different route, though, and in the process of eschewing the traditional car dealer model, it’s revolutionized how people think about buying cars. Selling its cars directly isn’t a bad thing because Tesla can avoid dealership practices that end up costing the consumer more money, like dealer markups.
Buying a Tesla is as easy as going online, configuring your vehicle, and then placing the order. Tesla offers delivery options as well, so you can have your vehicle delivered to the address of your choice, as long as it meets certain criteria for delivery.
9. Sources Batteries From Its Own Gigafactories
Tesla has an immense need for battery cells, which is understandable considering it’s in the business of selling high-volume electric vehicles. It originally addressed this need with its innovative Gigafactory Nevada plant, which produces everything from electric motors to batteries (in partnership with Panasonic).
Gigafactories have annual watt-hour capacity outputs in the billions, and the company intends to expand the factory significantly to keep up with demand.
10. Started the Big Infotainment Screen Wars
When the 2012 Model S debuted with its huge 17-inch central screen, many people were taken aback. To be fair, the tacked-on-tablet look of the central display was very different from the conservatively sized screens present in other vehicles. Regardless, other car manufacturers began hopping on the big-screen bandwagon, and the rest is history.
Flash forward a few years, and Tesla doesn’t even have the wildest screen offerings—that honor goes to the Mercedes Hyperscreen, which is a huge 56-inch array comprised of three separate screens.
EVs Today Owe a Lot to Tesla
Tesla has done a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to making EVs practical choices as daily drivers. The company has built a charging infrastructure from the ground up and created vehicles with great performance that can be driven without range anxiety.
It’s still innovating to this day. It will undoubtedly be at the forefront of the next advancements in EV tech, especially with revolutionary products like the Tesla Semi expanding the brand’s reach into other segments.
