The Mind-bending Joyrides That Gave Rise to Tesla

In 2003, Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard sought to attract investors by demonstrating the tZero, a high-performance electric roadster developed by AC Propulsion. Eberhard and his colleagues toured Silicon Valley, showcasing the vehicle's impressive acceleration to venture capitalists at venues like Buck’s of Woodside. While the demonstrations initially struggled to secure funding, they caught the attention of Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. They introduced Eberhard to Elon Musk, a successful entrepreneur and car enthusiast who had recently sold his stake in PayPal. Although Musk had no prior public interest in the automotive industry, his passion for fast cars led him to test the tZero. This pivotal connection, facilitated by early Tesla contributors like JB Straubel, eventually drew Musk into the electric vehicle space, setting the stage for his transformative role in the company’s history and the broader EV market.