Tesla, the American electric vehicle maker, has produced its 10 millionth car at its Fremont, California factory, a first for any company that exclusively builds EVs. The company confirmed the milestone in a post on social media platform X, making it the world's first automaker to reach this figure with a pure-electric lineup, according to infohub.kz.
The road to this milestone has been challenging yet remarkable. Tesla produced its first million vehicles only in 2020, 12 years after starting production. However, the next nine million were assembled in just six years, largely thanks to the mass-market Model 3 and Model Y.
Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturer BYD announced in 2024 that it had produced 10 million new energy vehicles. That number has since surpassed 17 million, but the tally includes hybrids as well as pure EVs.
Why does this figure matter to Elon Musk? Ten million cars is halfway to one of the key goals in Tesla CEO's compensation package, which is valued at $1 trillion. To receive it in full, the company must ramp up production to 20 million vehicles by 2035.
However, reaching that target won't be easy. After record deliveries in 2023, sales have declined for two consecutive years due to intensifying competition and an aging model lineup. The Cybertruck has also failed to meet expectations as a mass-market product.
Nevertheless, in the second quarter of 2026, the company's sales rose 25% year-over-year, driven by strong demand in Europe, where EVs have become more attractive amid high fuel prices.
Earlier, the publication "Kursiv Avto" reported that Tesla might be allowed to produce robotaxis without steering wheels or pedals in the U.S.