Electric Car Maker Since 2003 Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 27, 2025
Curious about the "Electric car maker since 2003" crossword clue from the April 27, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the exact 5-letter solution you're searching for. To enhance your puzzle-solving journey, we've created interactive features that make the experience more engaging. Our letter-by-letter reveal feature allows you to uncover the answer gradually, while our carefully developed resources—including pattern hints, alternative clues with the same answer, or detailed explanations—provide guidance for your solving approach. We've also made it simple to navigate between related clues from the same puzzle, enabling you to tackle multiple challenges with ease. Ready to solve this automotive industry clue? Let's find the answer together!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The April 27, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Electric car maker since 2003" with the answer TESLA. This clue refers to Tesla, Inc. (formerly Tesla Motors), which was founded in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. The company was named after the renowned inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. While Elon Musk—who is now commonly associated with the company—wasn't a founding member, he led the Series A funding round in February 2004 and became the company's chairman, later taking over as CEO in 2008. Tesla has revolutionized the automotive industry with its focus on electric vehicles, autonomous driving technology, and sustainable energy solutions, making it a perfect fit for this automotive-themed crossword clue.
Automotive Industry Context
Tesla's founding in 2003 marked a pivotal moment in automotive history. While electric vehicles weren't new—they had existed since the 19th century—Tesla's approach revolutionized the concept by addressing key limitations that had previously hindered widespread EV adoption. The company's first production vehicle, the Roadster (2008), was the first highway-legal serial production all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells and the first production EV with a range greater than 200 miles on a single charge. This was followed by the Model S sedan (2012), Model X SUV (2015), the more affordable Model 3 (2017), and the Model Y crossover (2020). Beyond vehicles, Tesla has expanded into energy storage systems (Powerwall, Powerpack, and Megapack), solar panel manufacturing, and autonomous driving technology. The company's impact extends beyond its products—it has pushed the entire automotive industry toward electrification, with traditional manufacturers accelerating their own EV development in response to Tesla's success. This pioneering role in the electric vehicle revolution makes Tesla the clear answer to the clue "Electric car maker since 2003."
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving company-related clues like "Electric car maker since 2003" in the NYT Mini Crossword, consider prominent brands in the specified industry that fit the letter count. The five-letter constraint is particularly useful here—while there are several electric vehicle manufacturers today, Tesla is one of the few with a five-letter name that matches the founding year mentioned in the clue. Business and technology references frequently appear in crosswords because they represent familiar entities in contemporary culture. When encountering clues about companies or brands, it's helpful to think about industry leaders, innovative companies, and those with distinctive names or origins. For this particular clue, the specific founding year (2003) serves as a key indicator pointing to Tesla, which has become synonymous with electric vehicles in popular culture. The New York Times Mini Crossword often includes references to companies that have cultural significance beyond their products or services, and Tesla certainly fits this description as a company that has fundamentally changed perceptions about electric vehicles and their potential.
Related Crossword Answers
TESLA
Clue: "Car company named after an inventor"
MUSK
Clue: "Elon who leads Tesla"
MODEL
Clue: "Tesla's S, 3, X or Y"
SEDAN
Clue: "Tesla Model S body style"
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