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Common Stock - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
1 Months Ended
May 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Overview Of The Company [Line Items]        
Common stock shares sold 3,902,862us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 7,964,601us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 125,687,607us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 123,090,990us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Cash proceeds from sale of common stock $ 355.1us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock $ 222.1us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock    
Principal amount of convertible senior notes     659.8us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount 660.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
1.50% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]        
Overview Of The Company [Line Items]        
Principal amount of convertible senior notes 660.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Debt instrument interest rate 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Proceeds from convertible senior notes, net of underwriting discounts and offering costs 648.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromDebtNetOfIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= tsla_OnePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
     
Chief Executive Officer [Member]        
Overview Of The Company [Line Items]        
Common stock shares sold 487,857us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
35,398us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
   
Cash proceeds from sale of common stock 45.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
1.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
   
Chief Executive Officer [Member] | Private placement [Member]        
Overview Of The Company [Line Items]        
Common stock shares sold 596,272us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_PrivatePlacementMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
     
Cash proceeds from sale of common stock $ 55.0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_PrivatePlacementMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember