Ten of the sedans, called the Model S, rolled out the door at the company's Fremont factory during a ceremony that had the feel of a pep rally.

"This is another example of California on the move," Brown told the crowd. "This is a great car. You're a bunch of great workers."

The first cars driven out of the factory were part of what Tesla Vice President George Blankenship called the carmaker's "personal delivery program."