TIME Magazine has officially recognized the Tesla Model S on its Best Inventions Hall of Fame for the century (so far), which records the 25 most iconic inventions the publication covered in the past 25 years. This solidifies the all-electric luxury sedan’s place among some of the most influential inventions in modern history.
TIME praised the Model S for its groundbreaking impact on the electric vehicle industry, writing that the car “proved a game-changing advance for electric vehicles, expanding driving range and making them an exciting alternative to their gas-powered predecessors.” TIME also noted that Tesla’s early success “nudged competitors to make their own EVs more enticing,” helping accelerate the global shift toward sustainable transportation.
Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen celebrated the honor on X, writing, “Model S in TIME’s top 25 inventions of the past 25 years! Congrats Tesla team!”
Introduced in 2012, the Model S was the vehicle that truly put Tesla on the map. Combining performance, luxury, and innovation, it delivered an EPA-estimated 265-mile (426 km) range on a single charge — unheard of at the time — and introduced drivers to a minimalist cabin dominated by a large touchscreen interface.
The Model S has undergone several iterations since its debut, including the 2021 launch of the Model S Plaid, which shattered production car acceleration records and pushed EV performance to new heights. Recent filings suggest Tesla is now preparing a refreshed version of the Model S (and Model X), which could mark the vehicle’s reintroduction to European markets after a multi-year absence.
The Model S joins other major innovations in TIME’s Hall of Fame list, including the iPhone, YouTube, COVID-19 vaccines, ChatGPT, and even the cronut, underscoring its cultural and technological influence over the past decade. Notably, Tesla’s Model 3 also made TIME’s “25 Best Inventions” list back in 2017, reflecting the company’s continued impact on EV accessibility and mass-market adoption.
This latest accolade comes shortly after Tesla CEO Elon Musk was ranked second on TIME’s TIME100 AI list of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence, recognizing his work across Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI.
