Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 Vehicles	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2008 mi
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Resale value guarantee	$ 487,879,000	$ 236,299,000
Revenue from sales	3,192,723,000	1,997,786,000	385,699,000
Total restricted cash	29,300,000	9,400,000
Accounts receivable from OEM customers excess percentage	10.00%
Estimated productive life for tooling	200,000
Total cost of operating lease vehicles	849,800,000	401,900,000
Accumulated depreciation related to leased vehicles	83,100,000	19,500,000
Advertising, promotion and related marketing expenses	48,900,000	9,000,000	3,900,000
Gain (loss) from foreign currency transaction	2,000,000	11,900,000
Warranty costs incurred for resale value guarantee	6,900,000
Current portion of accrued warranty	32,300,000	19,900,000
Non-current portion of accrued warranty	96,700,000	33,300,000
Estimated fair value of the environmental liabilities	4,000,000	5,500,000
2018 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price	$ 124.52
2019 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price	$ 359.87
2021 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price	$ 359.87
Model S [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Resale agreement term				36 months
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage	50,000
Extended product warranty period, years	4 years
Service period, years	4 years
Service coverage, vehicle mileage	50,000
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage	50,000
Extended product service period, years	4 years
Regulatory Credits [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Revenue from sales	216,300,000	194,400,000	40,500,000
Model S Maintenance Service [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	39,700,000	24,900,000
Revenue from sales	3,000,000	600,000
Roadster Extended Service Plan [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	700,000	1,400,000
Revenue from sales	500,000	400,000
Battery Replacement Plan [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	1,300,000	1,300,000
Tesla Roadster [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage					50,000
Extended product warranty period, years					4 years
Warranty period, years					3 years
Warranty coverage, vehicle mileage					36,000
Sales To Leasing Companies With Guarantee [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	19.6
Resale value guarantee	11.2
Prepaid maintenance program [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage	100,000
Extended product warranty period, years	8 years
New Vehicle Limited Warranty [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage	36,000
Extended product warranty period, years	3 years
New Vehicle Limited Warranty [Member] | Model S [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Service period, years	8 years
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage	125,000
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle mileage (in miles)	unlimited
New Vehicle Limited Warranty [Member] | Tesla Roadster [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage	36,000
Extended product warranty period, years	3 years
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Resale agreement term				36 months
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Resale agreement term				39 months
Supercharger network [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	25,600,000
Connectivity [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	14,400,000
Deferred lease revenue [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments	9,400,000
Revenue from sales	$ 4,400,000