Feel Free Read Tesla: How Elon Musk and Company Made Electric Cars Cool, and Remade the Automotive and Energy Industries PDF
The rise of Tesla is the most fascinating business story of the 21st century. In a mere 17 years, this Disruptor of Detroit has become the world’s most valuable automaker: bigger than Toyota or VW, and bigger than the US Big Three combined.And this appears to be just the beginning. Electric vehicles are in the early stages of a massive boom, and Tesla absolutely dominates the field. Furthermore, its ambitions reach beyond the electrification of the automotive industry—the California carmaker is also a trend-setter in solar energy, battery storage and self-driving technology.What’s the secret behind this game-changing growth? Tesla changed the way the public perceives electric vehicles. It set out to build not just the best electric cars, but the best cars—and by most accounts, that’s exactly what it has done.Charles Morris is one of the most respected journalists in the electric vehicle field. He has chronicled the rise of Tesla from the beginning, and has published thousands of print and online articles about the electric vehicle industry, including hundreds about Tesla.In this history of Tesla, Charles begins with a brief history of EVs and a biography of the company’s driving force, Elon Musk. He then details the rise of the company, told in the words of the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who made it happen. Charles conducted personal interviews with two Tesla founders, Marc Tarpenning and Ian Wright, and several other former employees. He cites over 300 secondary sources, with links to a wealth of further reading.There are many cracking good stories here: Martin Eberhard’s realization that there were many like himself, who loved fast cars but wanted to help the environment; the freewheeling first days of the company, reminiscent of the early internet era; Tesla’s near-death experience and miraculous resurrection; the spiteful split between the company’s larger-than-life leaders; and the gloves-off battles with short sellers and hostile media. This book has been extensively revised for 2020, with the addition of new chapters about China, Model Y, Cybertruck and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.The first edition earned 47 Amazon reviews, with an overall score of 4.6 stars.Highlights:“I thought I already knew everything there was to know about Tesla. I was really surprised by the detail and the depth of research that the author has put in while writing this book.”“Really liked this book, great insight, well researched.”“Excellent short history of the company and the men who created it.”“Very thorough and a fun and exciting read.”“Definitely a page turner.”“Any auto enthusiast should read this book.”“Recommended for anybody interested in disruptive technologies.”“Clearly written, accessible for all readers.”“Packed with very interesting information.”“Excellent read. Plenty of supporting references as well.”“This book made me want to go out and buy one.”“The author obviously knows his stuff! The book is very intelligently written, well researched and humorous in places.”“Great, entertaining, informative read.”“The author managed to cover all bases (technical, busines and legal) and keep it easy and fun to read.”
