Acquisition of SolarCity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 21, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net revenue			$ 2,284,631	$ 2,298,436	$ 1,270,017	$ 1,147,048	$ 1,214,379	$ 936,789	$ 954,976	$ 939,880	$ 7,000,132	$ 4,046,025	$ 3,198,356
Operating loss											$ (667,340)	$ (716,629)	$ (186,689)
SolarCity [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date											Nov. 21, 2016
Business combination, common stock conversion basis	each issued and outstanding share of SolarCity common stock was converted into 0.110 (the “Exchange Ratio”) shares of Tesla common stock.
Business combination, stock conversion ratio of shares	0.11%
Fair value of consideration transferred, total	$ 2,145,977
Stock-based compensation expense	95,900
Business acquisition transaction costs	21,700
Recognized gain on acquisition	$ 88,727		$ 88,700
Net revenue		$ 84,100
Operating loss		$ 68,200
SolarCity [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Stock price	$ 185.04													$ 230.01