Tesla’s India Debut Begins With Founder’s Exit
Elon Musk ousted Tesla’s creator before global rise….
As Tesla gears up to enter the Indian market, an old and dramatic chapter from its past is back in the spotlight—the ousting of the company’s original founder by none other than Elon Musk.
While the world associates Tesla with Musk’s name today, it was actually Martin Eberhard who co-founded Tesla Motors in 2003. He was the one who envisioned an all-electric sports car, named the company Tesla, and oversaw the development of its first prototype.
Things changed in 2004 when Elon Musk invested millions into the young company and became Chairman of the Board. Over time, tensions rose. By 2007, Eberhard was forced out, and Musk stepped in as CEO. Not only that, Musk later went on to declare himself as one of Tesla’s co-founders, sparking a major controversy. Eberhard even filed a defamation lawsuit, which was eventually settled out of court.
The drama didn’t end there. In 2008, Tesla hit a near-fatal financial crisis. Elon Musk later revealed that he was so stressed, he would scream in his sleep. The company was burning cash fast, and bankruptcy loomed. Musk poured his personal fortune into saving both Tesla and SpaceX during that time, taking huge personal and financial risks.
Fast forward to today—Tesla is one of the world’s most valuable companies and is finally entering India, a growing hub for electric vehicles. The Indian government is expected to offer Tesla subsidies and fast-track permissions for setting up manufacturing plants.
As excitement builds around Tesla’s official entry into India, the resurfacing of this turbulent early history is a reminder that innovation often comes at the cost of internal conflict. Musk’s aggressive leadership style, once heavily criticized, is now being studied as a case of visionary disruption.
For Indian consumers, Tesla’s arrival could mean a major shift in the EV ecosystem—introducing premium innovation and possibly pushing local manufacturers to step up their game.
But behind the glamorous EV revolution lies a story of ambition, betrayal, and risk-taking that defined Tesla’s earliest years.