WATCH: What is Tesla and what cars does it build?

Tesla is a technology company and independent automaker whose mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.

It aims to offer electric cars at relatively affordable prices.

SA born Elon Musk

From cars to rockets, Elon Musk dreams big.

Earlier in 2018, the South African-born entrepreneur combined both of those passions, blasting one of his Tesla electric cars into space aboard his own rocket.

It was the latest feat for the 46-year-old Silicon Valley billionaire who has been hailed as a leading innovator and visionary.

Born in Pretoria, on June 28, 1971, the son of an engineer father and a Canadian-born model mother, Musk left South Africa in his late teens to attend Queen's University in Ontario.

Besides being the head of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk is the chairman of SolarCity, a solar panel installer recently bought by Tesla.

Musk has also promoted research into an ultra-fast "Hyperloop" rail transport system that would transport people at near supersonic speeds.