The electric vehicle race Tesla’s inspired around the world (INFOGRAPHIC)

Photo credit: Tesla.

When it comes to electric vehicles, the name Tesla is going to turn more than a few heads. Co-founded by Elon Musk in 2003, the company held an initial public offering in 2010 and has continued to grab headlines ever since. But what about the other electric vehicle companies around the world?

Startup research firm Tracxn has put together an infographic detailing some of Tesla’s competitors – namely, 11 electric vehicle companies in the US, China, Germany, Japan, India, and Taiwan – and how their funding stacks up.

The majority of the featured companies are based in the US like Tesla. Proterra, the oldest of these firms, was founded only a year after Tesla and counts Tao Capital Partners and General Motors Ventures among those contributing to its US$205 million war chest. While Tesla concentrates on personal vehicles, Proterra’s more focused on zero emission buses.

When it comes to other US-based electric carmakers, a bit more research shows that Chinese companies are part owners.

When it comes to other US-based electric carmakers, a bit more research shows that Chinese companies are part owners. Atieva, founded in 2007 by former Tesla vice president Bernard Tse and Sam Weng, had raised US$67 million from investors including Potomac Energy Fund. Chinese auto company BAIC bought a majority stake in the company last year.

Faraday Future, the most recently founded of the US electric car companies, is the only company without extra information listed under it. It’s backed by LeEco (formerly Letv) and its car, the LeSee, debuted last month in Beijing. Among its features are its ability to be partially controlled remotely by smartphone, and it’s nothing to sneeze at. Its cars may be on sale as early as 2018.

LeEco has also partnered with British carmaker Aston Martin in its mission to make smart cars and take on Tesla.

Shanghai-based NextEV is the only electric car company featured that’s not headquartered in the US. The company has half a billion US dollars in funding from investors, including Sequoia Capital, Tencent, and Joy Capital. This makes it the 14th most funded startup in China last year.

Ladies and gentlemen, spark your engines

One of Ather’s electric bikes.

Tesla may have made electric cars its thing but moving outside of the US, the rest of the electric vehicle scene in the infographic seems to be ruled by bikes. This makes sense as markets around the globe are just starting to get their hands on Tesla cars. And while most electric car companies are in the US, Americans still have a hard time buying electric or hybrid vehicles – direct sales of Tesla vehicles are straight up banned in some states – without factoring in their attitudes toward bikes.

Nevertheless, the US is starting to warm up to the idea of both ecars and bikes. It has one bike company on Tracxn’s list, Zero Motorcycles, which has received US$131 million in funding from Invus and the California Energy Commission.

Americans still have a hard time buying electric or hybrid vehicles