How Tesla Drives the Electric Vehicle Industry Through Disruptive Innovation: Success Factors and Practical Insights from a Case Study

This study examines how Tesla leverages disruptive innovation to drive transformation in the global electric vehicle industry.Based on Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation and subsequent research, this study employs a qualitative case-study methodology.Utilizing secondary sources, including Tesla corporate reports, news coverage, industry analyses, and financial disclosures, it analyzes Tesla's vehicle development, battery and software innovations, direct sales model, charging network, and strategic deployments through thematic coding and process tracing.The findings indicate that Tesla's success stems from the convergence of technological breakthroughs, business model innovation, and leadership.The study unfolds across three dimensions: market entry and R&D pathways, impacts on consumer expectations and traditional automakers' responses, and key elements of the business model.This further reveals that traditional automakers' lagging investments in batteries, software, and infrastructure led to inadequate responses.This study bridges the gap between disruptive innovation theory and industry practice, providing practical insights for electric vehicle industry managers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, while enriching empirical research in this field.