In a candid interview, Eberhard expressed frustration over how Elon Musk has allegedly distorted Tesla’s origin story to position himself as its primary founder. Eberhard, who co-founded Tesla Motors in 2003 with Marc Tarpenning, stated that Musk was an investor who joined later — not a founding member.
“Elon has repeatedly misrepresented the early history of Tesla,” Eberhard said, “It’s frustrating that the media often ignores those of us who were actually there from the beginning.”
This is not the first time Eberhard has challenged Musk’s claims. Over the years, he has consistently maintained that while Musk played a crucial role in funding and promoting Tesla, he was not among the original creators of the company. According to Eberhard, Musk’s acquisition of the “co-founder” title came through a legal settlement after he was ousted as CEO in 2007.
Eberhard emphasized the importance of setting the record straight, arguing that innovation and entrepreneurship should reflect the contributions of all individuals involved — not just the most vocal or wealthy.
His remarks have reignited the long-standing debate over Musk’s involvement in Tesla’s early days. While many credit Musk for revolutionizing the EV market and scaling the company to global heights, critics argue that he has overshadowed the engineers and visionaries who laid the foundation.
Tesla, now a trillion-dollar enterprise, has undeniably flourished under Musk’s leadership. However, Eberhard’s comments invite a more nuanced look at how tech histories are written — and who gets remembered.
The controversy continues to stir conversation within the tech and automotive communities, shedding light on the power of narratives, the media’s role in shaping public perception, and the complex dynamics behind revolutionary companies like Tesla.