Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future · chapter 12 · id zero-to-one-c12-07-tesla-answered-all-seven-quest
“Tesla answered all seven questions correctly: breakthrough technology (other automakers licensed Tesla's batteries), small market start ($109K Roadster), direct-to-consumer distribution, engineer-founder (Musk), and cleantech-as-fashion secret.”
TRUE, BUTconfidence: medium⚠ extracted by pipeline, re-audit pending
Receipts
CleanTechnica -- Tesla Powertrain Dealssource alive
Daimler bought a <10% stake in Tesla for $50M in 2009. Tesla provided battery packs for Smart fortwo and A-Class EVs, and a powertrain for Toyota RAV4 EV.
Stratrix -- Tesla Direct-to-Consumer Salessource alive
No dealer network wanted an unproven EV startup. What began as a workaround became Tesla's most important strategic advantage.
This claim is a stable, citable object. If you can falsify a verdict, tell us. Corrections are loud here.