A vertical arrow below a "T" is the Tesla logo.

The Tesla logo consists of two parts. The main part of the letter T represents part of the motor rotor, while the second line at the top represents part of the peripheral stator. Tesla CEO Musk explained on Twitter that the stylized "T" is actually a hint to the company's products, saying that the T-shaped logo represents the cross-section of the electric motor.

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In terms of logo design, Tesla also has similarities with SpaceX. SpaceX is another of Musk's bold ventures, building rockets and sending payloads into orbit. Musk said in a tweet that the deformed "X" in the SpaceX logo represents the rocket launch trajectory. The Tesla and SpaceX logos are the work of RO-Studio, a New Jersey-based design firm.

Compared with Tesla and SpaceX, the logo of Musk’s third company SolarCity is relatively simple. The graphic of the yellow sun paired with the company name is simple and clear. Under Musk's leadership, Tesla acquired SolarCity last year, sparking people's imagination about solar electric vehicles. SolarCity was previously controlled by Musk and his family members, but after the acquisition it was called a corporate entity affiliated with Tesla.

The acquisition of SolarCity hints at Musk's expectations for Tesla's future, and is not just satisfied with the latter becoming a car manufacturer. Not long ago, the company officially changed its name to "Tesla Corporation" instead of the previous "Tesla Motor Company."

Baidu Encyclopedia-Tesla