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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]      
Rent expense $ 46.3us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 21.5us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 12.1us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Environmental remediation costs expected to be paid 15tsla_SiteContingencyCostToBePaidByCompany    
Minimum amount of environmental remediation costs in excess of which the company expected to pay 30tsla_SiteContingencyCostToBePaidInExcessByCompany    
Remediation costs incurred 3.1us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments    
Environmental liabilities 4.0us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent 5.5us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent  
NUMMI [Member]      
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]      
Environmental remediation costs expected to be paid by a seller after the first amount is paid by company 15tsla_LowerThresholdThirdPartyLiability
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationContingencyAxis
= tsla_NewUnitedMotorManufacturingIncMember
   
Maximum amount that can be spent on remediation activities $ 30tsla_UpperThresholdThirdPartyLiability
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationContingencyAxis
= tsla_NewUnitedMotorManufacturingIncMember
   
Agreement term for governmentally required remediation activities for contamination, year 10 years    
Minimum [Member]      
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]      
Terms of agreements to lease equipment under capital leases in months 36 months    
Maximum [Member]      
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]      
Terms of agreements to lease equipment under capital leases in months 60 months    
California Lease Facility [Member]      
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]      
Leased facility square feet 350,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseAxis
= tsla_CaliforniaLeaseMember
   
Lease expiration of facility Jan. 01, 2020    
Tilburg, Netherlands Lease Facility [Member]      
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]      
Leased facility square feet 203,772us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseAxis
= tsla_NetherlandsLeaseMember
   
Lease expiration of facility Nov. 30, 2023