Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Vehicles mi $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$ 125,229	$ 76,134
Other assets		74,633	43,209
Deferred tax assets, net, non-current		18,600	18,600
Resale value guarantees, current portion		136,831
Maximum repurchase price of vehicles under resale value arrangement		348,200
Automotive revenues		$ 3,740,973	3,007,012	$ 1,921,877
Accounts receivable from OEM customers excess percentage		10.00%
Estimated productive life for tooling | Vehicles		250,000
Total cost of operating lease vehicles		$ 2,000,000	849,800
Accumulated depreciation related to leased vehicles		216,500	83,100
Advertising, promotion and related marketing expenses		58,300	48,900	9,000
Adjustment attributable to the current rate translation of non-monetary assets		10,000
Gain (loss) from foreign currency transaction		$ (45,600)	2,000	11,900
Maximum maturities of the cash flow hedges, in months		12 months
Warranty costs incurred for operating lease vehicles collateralized debt arrangements		$ 9,500	7,100
2018 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price | $ / shares		$ 124.52
2019 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price | $ / shares		359.87
2021 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price | $ / shares		$ 359.87
Regulatory Credits [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Automotive revenues		$ 168,700	216,300	$ 194,400
Model S [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage | mi		50,000
Extended product warranty period, years		4 years
Model S Maintenance Service [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments		$ 53,600	39,700
Automotive revenues		4,500	3,000
Deferred lease revenue [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments		25,800	9,400
Automotive revenues		41,200	4,400
Sales To Leasing Companies With Guarantee [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments		120,500	3,900
Resale value guarantees		527,500	$ 16,700
Gigafactory [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capital investments		3,500,000
Tax credit amount		$ 19,900
Incentive beginning period		Oct. 17, 2014
Incentive ending period		Jun. 30, 2034
Prepaid maintenance program [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Extended warranty coverage, vehicle additional mileage | mi		100,000
Extended product warranty period, years		8 years
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Guarantee period for resale		36 months
Direct lease term	36 months
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Guarantee period for resale		39 months
Direct lease term	48 months
New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$ (10,700)
Other assets		$ (18,700)