Tesla is a U.S.-based manufacturer of battery electric vehicles and energy products. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company designs and builds electric cars, battery energy storage systems, and related power electronics and software. Tesla operates large-scale “Gigafactory” facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia for vehicle assembly, battery packs, drive units, and components, and works with global charging and solar energy ecosystems.
For the chemical industry, Tesla is a major consumer and developer of lithium‑ion battery technologies. Its portfolio spans multiple chemistries, including nickel-rich formulations (e.g., NCA/NMC) for long-range applications and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) for standard-range vehicles and stationary storage. Tesla produces cells in-house (including 4680-format) and sources from suppliers such as Panasonic, CATL, and LG Energy Solution, shaping demand for battery-grade lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, electrolytes, and separators. The company has invested in upstream activities such as cathode materials and lithium refining in the United States and pursues battery recycling to recover critical metals, with the aim of lowering costs and reducing supply-chain emissions. Tesla’s scale and product mix have significant influence on global markets for battery materials and precursors.
