Regarding the "government funded" debate, both Tesla Motors and Fiskar received loans/guarantees from the US Department of Energy, with markedly different outcomes:

Fiskar: Bankruptcy resulting in government loss of $139MM [Link: nbcnews.com]

Tesla: Paid off complete loan of $465MM 9 years early, and as of 2013 was the only American car company not in debt to the government. [Link: businessweek.com]