In the space of two decades, Tesla has gone from its beginnings as a small startup in California to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. Along the way, it has pushed the entire auto industry toward its electric future and evolved into the world’s largest electric car manufacturer.
You can explore the history of Tesla in a new exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The show covers the history of the company from the development of the original Tesla Roadster to its future, with new vehicles included The Telsa Roadster 2.0, Tesla Semi and Telsa Cybertruck are on display. The exhibition is scheduled to be open until October 2023.
Petersen Museum Tesla History Exhibit
“Tesla has revolutionized the automotive, electric vehicle, technology and manufacturing spaces in a relatively short amount of time, begging the question, ‘How did they do that?'” said Petersen Auto Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “This exhibition strives to be a holistic presentation of how the brand became a global phenomenon and further details what is to come.”
The show also features displays showing the company’s manufacturing processes, electric vehicle components, related endeavors including SpaceX and The Boring Company, and its forays into the weird and wild like the Not-A-Flamethrower and Tesla Tequila.
Visitors arrive to see a deconstructed 2022 Tesla Model YJohn M. Vincent / USN&WR
When you enter Petersen’s Mullin Family Grand Salon, you are greeted by a 1908 Columbia Victoria Phaeton, representing the history of electric cars. It contrasts along the aisle with a sleek prototype of the car that became Tesla’s first fully produced vehicle, the Tesla Model S. Walking along, you’ll see a deconstructed 2022 Tesla Model Y hanging from the ceiling, demonstrating the relative simplicity of a car modern electric.
Tesla’s roots date back to 2003, before now CEO Elon Musk joined the company. This early history is shown with a 1997 tzero AC Propulsion roadster and its gasoline-powered trailed generator. The Zero inspired Tesla’s design of its original Roadster. The first Roadster produced by Tesla is on display, which became the personal car driven by Elon Musk on a daily basis.
Also featured is a Model X bearing the NASA logo. It is one of the vehicles used to transport SpaceX astronauts to the launch pad for their journeys into space. Speaking of space, an exhibit depicts the original launch of the Roadster into space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
2019 Tesla Cybertruck PrototypeJohn M. Vincent / USN&WR
The future of Tesla comes to life with exhibits showing a model of the long-delayed Tesla Roadster and a rough prototype of its massive Cybertruck, which Tesla will try to launch in 2023. The sledgehammer and steel ball used in the truck’s infamous November 2019 debut are included. in the exhibition.
Admission to the “Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution” presentation is included in the price of admission to the Petersen Museum.
Frequent questions
Where is Tesla Inside: Supercharging the Electric Revolution?: The exhibit is located in the Petersen Automobile Museum in Los Angeles, California.
How long?: The exhibition is scheduled to run until October 2023.
Is the Tesla Cybertruck there?: Yes, a prototype of the Tesla Cybertruck is on display.