The Operating System
18 Strategy, Bets & Moats

The Open-Source Strategy

Strategically sharing key technologies to grow markets and accelerate industry development.

Musk strategically shares key technologies to grow markets and accelerate industry development, recognizing that some innovations create more value when widely adopted.

  1. 2014. Tesla patents released, making all EV technology available to competitors.
  2. 2013. Hyperloop design published with complete technical specifications.
  3. 2023. Tesla Supercharger network opened to other manufacturers, establishing the NACS standard.

The EV market grew approximately 10x faster after Tesla’s patent release, creating a larger overall market that benefited Tesla despite increased competition. This approach recognizes that in emerging industries, growing the total market often matters more than market share.

The open-source strategy also positions Musk’s companies as industry leaders and standard-setters, influencing the direction of entire sectors.