When was Tesla founded?

Tesla dates back to 2003. It is headquartered in Austin, United States.

Who has owned Tesla in the past?

Past shareholders include Toyota (2010–2016) and Mercedes-Benz (2009–2014).

Brand · United States · since 2003

TeWho owns Tesla?

Tesla has no controlling parent company as of 2026.

HQ Austin
Founded 2003
Ownership changes tracked 2

See Tesla on the map

Ownership timeline

← rows are shareholders in Tesla. → rows are stakes Tesla held in others. Darker bars mean bigger stakes.

Every stake, year by year

Years	Stake	Who
2009–2014	9%	Owned by Mercedes-Benz · view 2009 on map
2010–2016	2.5%	Owned by Toyota · view 2010 on map

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Former owners

Quick answers

Who owns Tesla?: Tesla has no controlling parent company as of 2026.
When was Tesla founded?: Tesla dates back to 2003. It is headquartered in Austin, United States.
Who has owned Tesla in the past?: Past shareholders include Toyota (2010–2016) and Mercedes-Benz (2009–2014).

Stakes are approximate, rounded from public filings and press coverage. Badges are original monograms, not manufacturer logos, and no manufacturer endorses this site. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.