Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016 USD ($) shares	Apr. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Customer $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock shares sold | shares		7,915,004
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in public offerings		$ 1,700,000,000				$ 1,701,734,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				$ 144,678,000		144,678,000			$ 115,667,000
Other assets				66,650,000		66,650,000			59,674,000
Resale value guarantees, current portion				227,838,000		227,838,000			136,831,000
Maximum repurchase price of vehicles under resale value arrangement				597,700,000		597,700,000
Automotive revenues				1,181,852,000	$ 878,090,000	2,207,916,000	$ 1,771,410,000
Warranty costs incurred for operating lease vehicles collateralized debt arrangements				2,600,000	2,400,000	$ 5,100,000	4,200,000
Number of major customers | Customer						2
Maximum maturities of the cash flow hedges, in months						12 months
Unrecognized tax benefits				119,700,000		$ 119,700,000			99,300,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would not affect effective tax rate				$ 115,500,000		$ 115,500,000			95,700,000
2018 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price | $ / shares				$ 124.52		$ 124.52
2019 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price | $ / shares				359.87		359.87
2021 Notes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Convertible notes, conversion price | $ / shares				$ 359.87		$ 359.87
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Customer A [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable in excess of 10% of total accounts receivable						16.00%
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Customer B [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable in excess of 10% of total accounts receivable						11.00%
Deferred lease revenue [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments				$ 42,100,000		$ 42,100,000			25,800,000
Automotive revenues				23,900,000	$ 9,300,000	40,600,000	$ 15,900,000
Sales To Leasing Companies With Guarantee [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments				210,500,000		210,500,000			120,500,000
Resale value guarantees				851,900,000		$ 851,900,000			527,500,000
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Guarantee period for resale						36 months
Direct lease term			36 months
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Guarantee period for resale						39 months
Direct lease term			48 months
Internet [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments				42,000,000		$ 42,000,000			32,400,000
Future software updates [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments				3,700,000		3,700,000			2,700,000
Vehicle maintenance and service plans [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments				55,900,000		55,900,000			53,600,000
Supercharger network [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred upfront payments				$ 66,100,000		$ 66,100,000			49,500,000
New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(9,600,000)
Other assets									$ (15,000,000)
Reclassified out of current portion of long term debt in to the additional capital								$ 5,200,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | SolarCity [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Share exchange ratio	0.110