Nikola vs Tesla: Founders, CEOs and History
Nikola was founded in 2014 by Trevor Milton and is led by Stephen J. Girsky. Tesla was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Elon Musk and is led by Elon Musk.
Company facts
Founders
Nikola
Trevor Milton
Trevor Milton is a fiercely ambitious American entrepreneur and the profoundly controversial founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for initially architecting the massively hyped Nikola Corporation.
Tesla
Martin Eberhard
Martin Eberhard is an absolutely legendary American electrical engineer, fiercely visionary automotive pioneer, and the profoundly influential original CEO and founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for conceiving and architecting the massive Tesla Motor…
Marc Tarpenning
Marc Tarpenning co-founded Tesla Motors in 2003 and served in early finance, engineering and operating roles, including CFO and vice president of engineering.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk's role in Tesla's founding story is best understood as financier, chairman, product force and later crisis CEO.
JB Straubel
JB Straubel became Tesla's founding CTO and one of the most important technical architects in the company's history.
Ian Wright
Ian Wright is listed among Tesla's early founding figures because he contributed to the company's initial vehicle thinking and engineering direction.
CEOs and their tenures
Nikola
- Trevor Milton2014–2020
Founder, CEO and Executive Chairman
Founded Nikola and took it public via SPAC. Resigned in September 2020 and was convicted of fraud in 2022 (pardoned in 2025).
Source - Mark Russell2020–2022
Chief Executive Officer
Led the company after Milton's exit, through the SEC settlement and the Coolidge factory build-out.
Source - Stephen J. Girsky2023–2025
President & Chief Executive Officer
Former GM vice chairman and VectoIQ chairman. He became CEO in August 2023, put hydrogen trucks first, oversaw the BEV recall fix, and led Nikola into its February 2025 Chapter 11 filing and asset sales.
Source - Michael Lohscheller2023–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Former Opel CEO. He led Nikola for most of 2023 and stepped down in August 2023 for family health reasons.
Source
Tesla
- Martin Eberhard2003–2007
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Tesla from 2003 to 2007.
Source - Ze'ev Drori2007–2008
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Tesla from 2007 to 2008.
Source - Elon Reeve Musk2008–present
CEO
Led Tesla's transformation from a niche electric roadster project into the world's leading EV manufacturer, scaling global Gigafactories, Supercharger infrastructure, and autonomous driving architectures.
Source
Timeline: Nikola and Tesla side by side
2003Tesla
Tesla Motors Founded
Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning to prove that lithium-ion batteries could power a desirable electric car.
2004Tesla
Elon Musk Leads Series A
Elon Musk led Tesla's Series A financing in 2004 and became chairman. The investment gave Tesla enough capital and public credibility to continue Roadster development.
2008Tesla
Roadster Launch
The Roadster launched in 2008 as a highway-capable electric sports car with more than 200 miles of range. It mattered because it proved an EV could be fast, premium and emotionally desirable.
2008Tesla
Elon Musk Becomes CEO
Musk became CEO in 2008 during a severe financing and production crisis. He restructured operations, secured emergency funding and pushed the company toward a clearer product sequence.
2010Tesla
Tesla IPO
Tesla went public in 2010, raising capital while still far from stable profitability. The IPO mattered because it gave Tesla access to public-market funding for product development and manufacturing.
2012Tesla
Model S Launch
The Model S launched in 2012 and moved Tesla beyond the Roadster niche. It mattered because it combined range, software, performance and premium design in a vehicle Tesla controlled more fully.
2014Nikola
Nikola Motor Company founded in Utah
Trevor Milton founded Nikola Motor Company in Salt Lake City to build alternative-powertrain semi-trucks.
2014Tesla
Gigafactory Strategy Announced
Tesla announced the Gigafactory strategy in 2014 with Panasonic as a key partner. The move mattered because batteries were the limiting input for EV scale, cost and range.
2016Nikola
Nikola One prototype unveiled
Nikola unveiled the Nikola One hydrogen sleeper-cab concept and moved its headquarters to Phoenix, Arizona.
2016Tesla
SolarCity Acquired
Tesla's 2016 SolarCity acquisition is company-specific because it changed the portfolio rather than simply adding scale. The reported value was $2.6B.
2017Tesla
Model 3 Production Crisis
The Model 3 ramp in 2017 exposed severe bottlenecks caused partly by excessive automation. The crisis mattered because Tesla's mass-market strategy depended on producing a lower-priced vehicle at high volume.
2019Nikola
CNH Industrial / Iveco partnership
CNH Industrial invested $250 million, and the Iveco S-Way cab became the basis for the Nikola Tre.
2020Nikola
SPAC listing and Hindenburg report
Nikola listed on Nasdaq through its merger with VectoIQ in June. A Hindenburg Research report in September was followed by Trevor Milton's resignation.
2020Tesla
S&P 500 Inclusion
Tesla joined the S&P 500 in 2020 after proving sustained profitability. The milestone mattered because it brought index-fund ownership, wider institutional attention and validation that Tesla was no longer a speculative startup.
2021Nikola
$125 million SEC settlement
In December 2021 Nikola agreed to pay a $125 million civil penalty to settle SEC charges over misleading statements by Milton.
2022Nikola
Tre BEV deliveries and Milton conviction
Coolidge production of the Tre BEV ramped up, and in October a federal jury convicted Milton of securities and wire fraud.
2023Nikola
Tre FCEV launch, recall and CEO change
Nikola started series production of the Tre hydrogen fuel cell truck, recalled its battery-electric trucks after battery fires, and named Steve Girsky CEO in August. It posted a $966.3 million net loss.
2023Tesla
Global Price Cuts
Tesla cut prices across major markets in 2023 to defend demand and pressure competitors. The move mattered because it showed Tesla could use its direct-sales model to adjust faster than dealer-based rivals.
2024Nikola
HYLA stations and reverse split
Nikola opened its first HYLA hydrogen station in Ontario, California, and completed a 1-for-30 reverse stock split in June.
2025Nikola
Chapter 11, Lucid asset sale and liquidation
Nikola filed for Chapter 11 on February 19 and sold its Coolidge plant to Lucid in April. Its liquidation plan was confirmed September 12 and took effect December 12.
2025Tesla
$94.8B Revenue and Delivery Decline
In FY2025, Tesla reported $94.8B in revenue and delivered 1,636,129 vehicles. The milestone mattered because revenue and deliveries both showed the company had entered a more mature, contested phase.
2026Nikola
Liquidation plan upheld on appeal
In September 2026 the U.S. District Court for Delaware affirmed the confirmation order, rejecting appeals by Trevor Milton and securities class plaintiffs.
Acquisitions
Tesla
- Maxwell Technologies2019$218M
- DeepScale2019Undisclosed
- Hibar Systems2019Undisclosed
- Perbix Machine Company2017$10.5M
- SolarCity2016$2.6B
- Grohmann Engineering2016$135M
Questions about Nikola vs Tesla
Who is the CEO of Nikola Corporation and Tesla, Inc.?
Nikola Corporation is led by Stephen J. Girsky and Tesla, Inc. is led by Elon Musk. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Nikola Corporation founded vs Tesla, Inc.?
Tesla, Inc. was founded in 2003 — 11 years before Nikola Corporation, which was founded in 2014. Tesla, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Nikola Corporation.
How many employees does Nikola Corporation have compared to Tesla, Inc.?
Tesla, Inc. employs approximately 134,785 people. A verified employee count for Nikola Corporation is not currently available.
Where are Nikola Corporation and Tesla, Inc. headquartered?
Both Nikola Corporation and Tesla, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Nikola Corporation and Tesla, Inc.?
Nikola Corporation was founded by Trevor Milton. Tesla, Inc. was founded by Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Elon Musk, JB Straubel, Ian Wright.
Which company has a longer operating history — Nikola Corporation or Tesla, Inc.?
Tesla, Inc. has been operating for approximately 23 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Nikola Corporation has been in operation for around 12 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Nikola vs Tesla overview