Former Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson has donated the very first Model S ever produced to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Jurvetson made the donation as a testament to the Model S’s pivotal role in shaping the landscape of electric cars and its significance in automotive history.
The Model S, launched in 2012, was Tesla’s first mass-produced car and marked the beginning of the automaker’s iconic S3XY lineup. Jurvetson’s donation of the all-wheel-drive Model S P85, the first of its kind, serves as a nod to the vehicle’s journey from the production line in Fremont, California, to becoming a symbol of innovation in the electric vehicle market.
Jurvetson, who announced the donation on X (formerly Twitter), had also previously donated a Tesla Roadster and Model X to the museum. In his post on X Jurvetson emphasized the Model S’s enduring impact by sharing notable quotes from early reviews. Magazines such as Road & Track hailed it as “the most important car America has made in an entire lifetime,” while WIRED described it as “a rolling testament to the potential of automotive innovation.”
Making history never looked so good.
I always knew the first Model S would end up in a museum, and I am happy to say it now resides in the Petersen Museum, along with the other early Teslas I donated to them.I have compiled some reviews from its 2012 release… and they still… pic.twitter.com/LZspoHoOqL
— Steve Jurvetson (@FutureJurvetson) November 29, 2023
The Model S will now reside alongside other iconic Teslas at the Petersen Automotive Museum, including the original Cybertruck prototype and a Model S Plaid. Jurvetson’s vision for his Model S was clear from the beginning – he knew it belonged in a museum, a decision validated by the museum’s commitment to showcasing the most comprehensive collection of Tesla vehicles ever curated.
