In a symbolic gesture, the company also removed a wall of Tesla patents from the lobby of its headquarters in Palo Alto, California in what it called “the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology”.

Writing on the company website, Elon Musk, chief executive, said: “If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay IP landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal.

“Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology,” he added.

The number of cars globally is estimated to be two billion, with 100 million manufactured every year. However, total sales of electric cars are said to be less than 1% of overall purchases.