Tesla CEO Elon Musk remains one of the biggest factors behind the power of the Tesla brand.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
Tesla fans went crazy for the Model 3 when it was announced in March 2016, with over 300,000 pre-orders in the first week.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
The integration of technology such as a large touchscreen console has been one of the ways Tesla has attracted so many engineers and IT professionals to its brand.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
Elon Musk shows off the Tesla Model X SUV with its signature “falcon wing doors.”
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
A Tesla Meetup group in St. Louis, MO, gathers around their Teslas after a dinner spent talking about Autopilot.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
This Tesla Model S shows off its design and roominess at a Tesla showroom in Palo Alto, California.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
Tesla Supercharger stations are quickly spreading across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
Tesla is betting big on the Model 3 as the car that will bring its brand to the masses when it hits the market in 2018.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
At a Tesla showroom in Centennial, Colorado, 400-500 fans waited in line on March 31, 2016 to place a pre-order for a Tesla Model 3–to be delivered in 2018.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
Whether the cult-like following of the Tesla brand can sustain itself and if it can scale to a wider audience are both major unknowns.
SEE: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
Jason Hiner is Editorial Director of CNET and former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic. He's co-author of the book, Follow the Geeks.
