16 surprising facts about Tesla cars
When you think of Tesla, electric cars and Elon Musk probably come to mind first. But there’s so much more to this automotive disruptor than meets the eye. From breaking crash test machines to launching cars into space, Tesla has a track record of doing things differently.
These remarkable vehicles have revolutionized not just how we think about electric cars, but the entire automotive industry. Here is a list of 16 surprising facts about Tesla cars that showcase just how extraordinary these vehicles really are.
Tesla’s Model S broke the roof testing machine
During NHTSA safety testing, the Tesla Model S literally broke the roof crush testing equipment when it exceeded 4G’s of force. What this means is that at least four additional fully loaded Model S vehicles could be placed on top of an owner’s car without the roof caving in.
The testing machine simply couldn’t handle the structural integrity of Tesla’s design, making this one of the most impressive unintentional demonstrations of automotive engineering strength.
The company gives away its patents for free
According to Tesla’s 2014 blog post by Elon Musk, Tesla patents are open source and free to use by other car manufacturers. This radical approach goes against traditional automotive industry practices where companies jealously guard their intellectual property.
Musk believes that applying this philosophy will strengthen the Tesla brand rather than diminish its technological advancement.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
You can’t just walk into a dealership and buy one
You can’t just walk into a dealership and buy a Tesla – you have to preorder one through their Design Studio and they custom build each vehicle at their factory. This direct-to-consumer model bypasses traditional dealerships entirely.
Once your Tesla is built, it’s shipped to the nearest service center for pickup, and if that’s more than 160 miles away, they’ll deliver it directly to your home or business.
Tesla sent a car to space
In February 2018, Elon Musk launched a cherry red Tesla Roadster into orbit with a ‘dummy’ called Starman in the driver’s seat. This wasn’t just a publicity stunt – it was part of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy test flight.
The car is still floating around in space, complete with a David Bowie soundtrack playing on repeat, though no one can hear it.
The Model S achieved a safety score that doesn’t officially exist
The Tesla Model S earned a 5.4-star safety rating from NHTSA, even though the official scale only goes to 5 stars. This made it the safest car ever tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The car performed so exceptionally well across all categories that it essentially broke the rating system, much like it broke the testing equipment.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Tesla cars have a ‘Dog Mode’ feature
In 2019, Tesla introduced Dog Mode, which allows you to set a cabin temperature to keep your pet comfortable while you’re away. The system displays a message on the touchscreen letting passersby know the air conditioning is on and the pet is safe.
It’s one of those thoughtful touches that shows Tesla thinks about real-world scenarios beyond just transportation.
The company wasn’t founded by Elon Musk
Tesla was actually founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003, with Musk joining as chairman in 2004 after leading the Series A funding round. While Musk has become the face of Tesla and serves as CEO, he wasn’t one of the original founders.
The company name honors inventor Nikola Tesla, the electrical engineer who contributed to modern AC electrical systems.
Tesla cars sport the largest touchscreen interface in any production car
Tesla has built one of the biggest infotainment systems among today’s cars, with the Model S featuring a massive 17-inch touchscreen panel. This screen serves as the single control panel for driving, navigation, music, and virtually everything else in the car.
It was revolutionary when introduced and remains one of the largest displays in any production vehicle.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
The Model 3 became the world’s most popular electric car
Tesla tapped into the mainstream market by launching its Model 3 in 2017, which became the world’s most popular plug-in electric car in 2020. The Model 3 had worldwide unit sales of roughly 501,000 in 2021.
This achievement marked Tesla’s transition from a luxury car maker to a mass-market automotive manufacturer.
Tesla sells premium mezcal in lightning bolt bottles
Tesla sells its own premium small-batch mezcal made from sustainably sourced agave, packaged in a lightning bolt-shaped bottle for $450. This quirky product shows Tesla’s willingness to venture into unexpected markets.
The company also sells other unusual items like the CyberStein mug and wireless chargers, proving they’re not just about cars.
Model S refused to roll over during testing
During NHTSA rollover testing, the Model S refused to flip using normal methods, so the agency had to resort to ‘special means’ to induce the car to roll. Tesla credits this exceptional performance to the battery pack mounted below the floor pan, which provides a very low center of gravity.
The Model S had a rollover risk of just 5.7 percent.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Tesla has produced over 7 million vehicles since 2018
There have been 7,048,960 Tesla models produced in the past seven years from 2018 to 2024. The total number of vehicles sold from 2008 to Q1 2025 is 7,586,739.
This massive production scale shows how Tesla has evolved from a startup making a few hundred cars to a major automotive manufacturer.
The Model Y became the UK’s most popular electric vehicle
In 2024, the Tesla Model Y was the UK’s most popular EV and the fifth-most popular new car overall. This achievement demonstrates Tesla’s global appeal and their success in markets beyond the United States.
The Model Y’s crossover design hit the sweet spot for many consumers transitioning to electric vehicles.
Tesla makes money from carbon credits sold to competitors
In the first 9 months of 2024, Tesla made $2.1 billion from carbon credits sold to rival manufacturers to help them meet their environmental obligations. Tesla earned $2.76 billion from regulatory carbon credit sales in 2024 alone.
This revenue stream essentially means Tesla gets paid by other automakers who can’t meet emissions requirements on their own.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Tesla’s Autopilot was named after a SpaceBalls reference
Tesla’s various driving modes include ‘Ludicrous Speed Mode,’ which is a direct reference to the 1987 comedy film SpaceBalls. Tesla makes nerdy references that some appreciate more than others, including features like ‘fart mode’.
These Easter eggs and pop culture references are part of Tesla’s quirky personality that sets them apart from traditional automakers.
The cars can receive major updates while you sleep
Tesla vehicles receive over-the-air software updates that can add new features, improve performance, or fix issues without visiting a service center. Recent updates have included features like Low Power Mode, expanded Robotaxi capabilities, and improvements to Full Self-Driving technology.
Your car can literally become more capable overnight, which is unprecedented in the automotive industry.
More Than Just Transportation
Tesla has fundamentally changed what we expect from both electric vehicles and the car-buying experience itself. These facts reveal a company that thinks differently about everything from safety testing to customer service to product development.
While other automakers are still catching up to Tesla’s electric vehicle technology, Tesla continues pushing boundaries in ways that surprise even longtime observers of the automotive industry.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
More from Go2Tutors!
- 16 Historical Figures Who Were Nothing Like You Think
- 12 Things Sold in the 80s That Are Now Illegal
- 15 VHS Tapes That Could Be Worth Thousands
- 17 Historical “What Ifs” That Would Have Changed Everything
- 18 TV Shows That Vanished Without a Finale
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
