Equity Award Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Summary of Stock Option Activity, Presented in Terms of Tesla's Common Stock

A summary of stock option activity, presented in terms of Tesla’s common stock, is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

						Weighted-
				Weighted-		Average
				Average		Remaining		Aggregate
	Stock			Exercise		Contractual		Intrinsic
	Options			Price		Term (Years)		Value
Outstanding - January 1, 2014		1,534			134.27		7.52		586,740
Granted (weighted-average fair value of $431.36)		610			597.18
Exercised		(349	)		58.00				185,822
Canceled		(260	)		350.09
Outstanding - December 31, 2014		1,535			299.00		7.64		342,293
Granted (weighted-average fair value of $284.00)		709			451.55
Exercised		(105	)		111.36				37,929
Canceled		(125	)		509.73
Outstanding - December 31, 2015		2,014			349.36		7.74		293,855
Granted (weighted-average fair value of $137.53)		142			235.81
Exercised		(89	)		60.60				12,754
Canceled		(873	)		452.05
Outstanding - December 31, 2016		1,194		$	282.44		6.04	$	90,408
Options vested and exercisable - December 31, 2014		719		$	115.64		6.30	$	272,140
Options vested and exercisable - December 31, 2015		883		$	195.73		5.88	$	258,310
Options vested and exercisable - December 31, 2016		901		$	230.75		5.33	$	88,387
Options vested and expected to vest - December 31, 2014		1,367		$	274.09		7.46	$	333,813
Options vested and expected to vest - December 31, 2015		1,670		$	326.73		7.37	$	287,673
Options vested and expected to vest - December 31, 2016		1,128		$	268.38		5.89	$	89,865

Summary of Fair Value of Stock Options Granted Using Weighted-Average Assumptions used in the Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model

The fair values were estimated on each grant date with the following weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Dividend yield		0	%		0	%		0	%
Annual risk-free rate of return		1.50	%		2.14	%		1.95	%
Expected volatility		61.94	%		65.76	%		83.66	%
Expected term (years)		6.28			7.02			6.25

Summary of RSU Activity, Presented in Terms of Tesla's Common Stock

A summary of RSU activity, presented in terms of Tesla’s common stock, is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

				Weighted-
	Restricted			Average
	Stock			Fair
	Units			Value
Outstanding - January 1, 2014		2		$	231.45
Granted		121			562.91
Released		(6	)		552.82
Cancelled		(4	)		589.00
Outstanding - December 31, 2014		113			556.00
Granted		367			436.27
Released		(43	)		547.18
Cancelled		(43	)		511.73
Outstanding - December 31, 2015		394			450.27
Granted		262			450.28
Vested		(132	)		397.33
Cancelled		(162	)		369.04
Outstanding - December 31, 2016		362		$	505.99
Expected to vest - December 31, 2016		236		$	315.46

Summary of Capitalized Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The amount of capitalized stock-based compensation expense was as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016			2015
Capitalized under:
Inventories	$	(157	)	$	226
Other assets	$	666		$	3,136
Property, plant and equipment - net	$	3,422		$	2,997
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	$	21,755		$	24,075

Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized

Stock-based compensation expense was included in cost of revenue and operating expenses as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016			2015		2014
Total cost of revenue	$	3,692		$	2,855	$	2,251
Sales and marketing	$	19,124		$	24,176	$	16,391
General and administrative	$	18,193		$	45,135	$	40,897
Pre-production expense	$	(496	)	$	—	$	—
Research and development	$	8,853		$	14,203	$	6,023