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Convertible Notes and Long-term Debt Obligations - 1.50% Convertible Senior Notes and Bond Hedge and Warrant Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
D
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Apr. 30, 2014
May 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Aggregate principal amount of Notes   $ 659,800,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount $ 659,800,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount $ 660,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount    
Debt, interest expense     3,200,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts      
Coupon interest expense     16,200,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization      
Debt instrument convertible consecutive trading days   30 days        
Debt instrument convertible trading days   20us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdTradingDays        
Percentage of repurchase price is equal to principal amount of convertible notes     100.00%tsla_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountOfConvertibleNotesIsEqualToRepurchasePrice      
Debt conversion, converted instrument, amount     82,800,000us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1      
Debt instrument, effective interest rate   4.29%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage 4.29%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage      
Amortization of debt discount     69,734,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium 9,143,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium    
Payment for purchase of common stock 5,600,000tsla_NoteHedgesNumberOfSharesContractedToBuy          
Common stock purchase price $ 359.87tsla_PurchasePricePerCommonStock          
Hedge transactions 524,700,000tsla_NoteHedgesTransactionCosts          
Shares issued under warrants   3,090,111us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights 3,090,111us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights      
Exercise price of warrant   $ 7.54us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1 $ 7.54us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1      
Proceeds from issuance of warrants     389,160,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants 120,318,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants    
Common stock price to conversion price, percentage   130.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdPercentageOfStockPriceTrigger        
Difference between principal amount and carrying value of Notes   58,196,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent 58,196,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent      
Warrants [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Hedge transactions         78,700,000tsla_NoteHedgesTransactionCosts
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember
 
Proceeds from issuance of warrants         50,800,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember
 
1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2018 [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Aggregate principal amount of Notes   659,800,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
659,800,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
    660,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Debt instrument interest rate           1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Debt instrument maturity year     2018      
Proceeds from convertible senior notes, net of underwriting discounts and offering costs           648,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDebtNetOfIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Debt issuance costs           12,000,000us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
Debt payment due dates     payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing on December 1, 2013      
Debt, interest expense     2,000,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
1,200,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
   
Coupon interest expense     9,800,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
5,900,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
   
Convertible principal amount     1,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Convertible instrument, shares issued     8.0306us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Debt instrument convertible, conversion price per share   $ 124.52us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
$ 124.52us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Debt instrument convertible trading days     5us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdTradingDays
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Debt instrument convertible, percentage of conversion price   130.00%tsla_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPricePercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
130.00%tsla_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPricePercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Average percentage of closing sale price of common stock     98.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Amortization of debt discount     15,500,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
9,100,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
   
Net carrying value of notes   601,600,000us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
601,600,000us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Remaining discounts on bond   58,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
58,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Remaining amortization period of discount     3 years 2 months 12 days      
Payment for purchase of common stock   5,300,000tsla_NoteHedgesNumberOfSharesContractedToBuy
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
5,300,000tsla_NoteHedgesNumberOfSharesContractedToBuy
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Common stock purchase price   $ 124.52tsla_PurchasePricePerCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
$ 124.52tsla_PurchasePricePerCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Hedge transactions     177,500,000tsla_NoteHedgesTransactionCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Shares issued under warrants   5,300,000us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
5,300,000us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Exercise price of warrant   $ 184.48us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
$ 184.48us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Notes carrying value   601,600,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
601,600,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Difference between principal amount and carrying value of Notes   58,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
58,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Excess of if-converted value over principal amount     518,700,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2018 [Member] | Warrants [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Proceeds from issuance of warrants     $ 120,300,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember
     
1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2018 [Member] | Minimum [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Debt instrument convertible consecutive trading days     20 days      
1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2018 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Warrants [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Conversion price per share   $ 124.52tsla_ConversionPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember
$ 124.52tsla_ConversionPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember
     
1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2018 [Member] | Maximum [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Debt instrument convertible consecutive trading days     30 days      
1.50% Convertible senior notes due 2018 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Warrants [Member]            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]            
Conversion price per share   $ 184.48tsla_ConversionPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember
$ 184.48tsla_ConversionPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= tsla_WarrantOneMember