Cash compensation received for services.

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Gross margin.

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Initial market capitalization.

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Market capitalization.

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Number of tranches.

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Number of vehicle production.

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Percentage of payroll deductions of employees eligible compensation.

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Portion of stock options scheduled to vest upon successful completion of performance objectives.

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- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award divided equally in number of tranches.

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Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award number of shares available for issuance.

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Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)
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Maximum term of the deferred compensation arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Discount rate from fair value on offering date that participants pay for shares.

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

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Aggregate change in value for stock issued during the period as a result of employee stock purchase plan.

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Equity Incentive Plans - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014 Tranches shares	Aug. 31, 2012 Tranches shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Tranches Vehicle $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period, in years			4 years
Contractual term of stock options, in years			10 years
Total intrinsic value of options exercised			$ 1,680,000,000	$ 395,600,000	$ 446,900,000
Weighted-average grant-date fair value for option awards granted \| $ / shares			$ 98.7	$ 108.28	$ 94.01
Aggregate number of vehicle production \| Vehicle			300,000
Unrecognized compensation expense			$ 772,900,000
Stock-based compensation			$ 334,225,000	$ 197,999,000	$ 156,496,000
Weighted-average period of recognition of unrecognized compensation, in years			2 years 9 months 18 days
Percentage of payroll deductions of employees eligible compensation			15.00%
Percentage of discount on purchase price of shares lower than fair market value			85.00%
Number of shares issued under ESPP \| shares			321,788	220,571	163,600
Number of shares issued under ESPP, value			$ 51,700,000	$ 37,538,000	$ 28,571,000
Fourth Tranche [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate number of vehicle production \| Vehicle			100,000
Third Tranche [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate number of vehicle production \| Vehicle			200,000
2012 CEO Grant [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of stock options granted \| shares		5,274,901
Number of vesting tranches \| Tranches			7
CEO Grant consists of number of vesting tranches \| Tranches		10
Market capitalization			$ 4,000,000,000
Initial market capitalization			3,200,000,000
Cash compensation received by CEO			0
Performance Condition Not Considered Probable Achievement [Member] \| 2012 CEO Grant [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense			6,100,000
Performance Condition Probable of Being Achieved [Member] \| 2012 CEO Grant [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense			$ 4,900,000
Weighted-average period of recognition of unrecognized compensation, in years			2 years 3 months 18 days
First Model X Production Vehicle [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Portion of stock options scheduled to vest upon successful completion of performance objectives			0.25%
12-month period [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Portion of stock options scheduled to vest upon successful completion of performance objectives			0.25%
Aggregate number of vehicle production \| Vehicle			100,000
First Gen III Production Vehicle [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Portion of stock options scheduled to vest upon successful completion of performance objectives			0.25%
Three year period [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Portion of stock options scheduled to vest upon successful completion of performance objectives			0.25%
Gross margin			30.00%
2014 Performance-based Stock Option Grants [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of stock options granted \| shares	1,073,000
Number of vesting tranches \| Tranches	4
2014 Performance-based Stock Option Grants [Member] \| Performance Condition Not Considered Probable Achievement [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense			$ 17,500,000
Stock-based compensation			25,300,000	10,400,000	10,700,000
Performance Shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation			$ 15,800,000	$ 10,600,000	$ 25,000,000
Employee Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for grant \| shares			3,615,749
Number of shares available for issuance under ESPP \| shares			1,794,063
2010 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common shares were reserved for future issuance \| shares			4,698,501
Number of stock options granted \| shares			853,960
Employee stock purchase plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant-date fair value for ESPP granted \| $ / shares			$ 51.31	$ 58.77	$ 74.07