Tesla is an automotive and energy company generating $81.5B in annual revenue primarily from electric vehicles, while Apple is a consumer technology company with $383B in annual revenue from iPhones, services, and computing devices. They operate in fundamentally different industries with distinct business models and customer bases.
Tesla vs Apple — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Tesla and Apple cannot be directly compared as competitors—they serve entirely different markets and purposes. Choose Tesla if you're interested in sustainable transportation and energy solutions with growth potential in emerging EV markets. Choose Apple if you're evaluating a diversified consumer technology and services giant with premium pricing, ecosystem lock-in, and dominant market positions in smartphones and wearables. From an investment standpoint, Apple offers more stable cash flows and profitability, while Tesla offers higher growth potential but greater volatility.
American EV manufacturer focused on high-performance electric vehicles and autonomous technology
Consumer technology company creating iPhones, Macs, wearables, and digital services since 1976.
Structured comparison data for Tesla vs Apple with 127 attributes.
0-60 MPH Acceleration (Performance Model)
Supercharger/Adventure Network Locations
EV Market Share / Product Category Dominance
Enterprise Product Innovation Review Count
Enterprise Integration Capabilities Rating
Commercial Remaining Performance Obligations
Trailing 12-Month Revenue Growth (3-Year Period)
Ecosystem App Availability (Android/iOS equivalent)
iPhone 16 Pro / Galaxy S25 Ultra Display
Tesla vs Apple — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Tesla vs Apple.
Can Tesla and Apple be compared directly as competitors?
No—Tesla and Apple operate in fundamentally different industries. Tesla is primarily an automotive and energy company, while Apple is a consumer electronics and services company. They compete indirectly only in emerging areas like in-vehicle computing and AI/machine learning development. A direct comparison is more useful for investment purposes rather than product evaluation.
Why does Apple have much higher revenue than Tesla despite both being major tech companies?
Apple's $383B revenue (2024) vastly exceeds Tesla's $81.5B for several reasons: (1) Apple sells 231 million devices annually across iPhones, Mac, iPad, and wearables versus Tesla's 1.81 million vehicles; (2) Apple's Services segment generates $85.2B annually with recurring revenue; (3) much higher gross margins (46.3% vs 25.2%) due to software/services and premium pricing; and (4) longer market presence in established smartphone market versus Tesla's newer EV dominance.
Which company is a better investment—Tesla or Apple?
Tesla offers higher growth potential (EV market expanding 35-40% annually) but with significantly higher volatility and execution risk. Apple offers more predictable, stable cash flows ($110B+ annual free cash flow), dominant market positions, and lower risk. Tesla is better for growth-focused investors willing to tolerate volatility; Apple suits value/income investors seeking stability and dividends ($16B annual shareholder returns).
What are the geographic risks for each company?
Tesla derives ~25% of revenue from China and faces risks from tariffs, competition from BYD, and geopolitical tensions. Apple manufactures 20% of products in China and sources components globally, creating supply chain vulnerability. Both face US-China trade tensions, but Apple's diversified product portfolio and service revenue reduce single-region dependence more effectively than Tesla's vehicle-centric model.
How do their innovation strategies differ?
Apple spends 7.8% of revenue on R&D ($30B annually) focused on incremental hardware improvements, AI integration, and Services expansion—with 12-24 month product cycles. Tesla spends 2.1% on R&D ($1.7B) but invests heavily in manufacturing efficiency and autonomous driving algorithms, with 5-8 year vehicle platform lifecycles. Apple's strategy emphasizes polish and ecosystem; Tesla's emphasizes technological breakthroughs in mobility.