Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Account Activity Related to Resale Value Guarantee Program (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Operating Lease Vehicles
Net increase in operating lease vehicles under the resale value guarantee program		$ 706,220	$ 458,132
Depreciation expense recorded in cost of automotive revenues	$ (26,951)	(48,993)
Additional depreciation expense recorded in cost of automotive revenues as a result of early cancellation of resale value guarantee	(5,058)	(9,455)
Resale Value Guarantee
Net increase in resale value guarantee		143,216	$ 109,232
Resale Value Guarantee [Member]
Operating Lease Vehicles
Operating lease vehicles under the resale value guarantee program—beginning of period	792,711	684,590
Net increase in operating lease vehicles under the resale value guarantee program	208,399	348,192
Reclassifications to inventory resulting from return of vehicle under trade-in program	(6,364)	(11,597)
Operating lease vehicles under the resale value guarantee program—end of period	962,737	962,737
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue related to the resale value guarantee program—beginning of period	424,104	381,096
Net increase in deferred revenue including Model S deliveries with resale value guarantee and reclassification of collateralized borrowing from long-term to short-term	118,648	210,388
Amortization of deferred revenue and short-term collateralized borrowing recorded in automotive revenue	(54,175)	(98,924)
Additional revenue recorded in automotive revenue as a result of early cancellation of resale value guarantee	(3,310)	(4,496)
Release of deferred revenue resulting from return of vehicle under trade-in program	(2,695)	(5,492)
Deferred revenue related to the resale value guarantee program—end of period	482,572	482,572
Resale Value Guarantee
Resale value guarantee liability—beginning of period	606,221	487,879
Net increase in resale value guarantee	198,290	322,402
Reclassification from long-term to short-term collateralized borrowing	(3,743)	(4,387)
Additional revenue recorded in automotive revenue as a result of early cancellation of resale value guarantee	(2,966)	(4,036)
Release of resale value guarantee resulting from return of vehicle under trade-in program	(4,625)	(8,681)
Resale value guarantee liability—end of period	$ 793,177	$ 793,177