Final answer:
Tesla's success is attributed to its innovative technology and market disruption, akin to how Ford's Model T revolutionized the automotive industry with its cost-effective mass production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tesla's current success can first and foremost be attributed to its innovative technology and disruption of the traditional automotive market. Historically, the automotive industry has evolved through monumental changes starting with Henry Ford's Model T, which leveraged assembly-line production to make cars affordable and usher in a new era of mobility. This manufacturing revolution brought a significant decrease in car prices, making the Model T accessible to the broader population. Tesla, on the other side of the coast, as shown in the map of automobile assembly plants, is positioned uniquely as the sole major car factory on the West Coast and has contributed to the current landscape by focusing on electric vehicles and sustainability.
Similar to the way that Ford's introduction of affordable cars transformed the economy and society, Tesla's focus on electric vehicles and renewable energy is poised to have a significant impact on contemporary manufacturing practices and environmental stewardship.