Nikola Tesla

Serbian-American inventor and engineer Tesla had discovered and patented the rotating magnetic field, the basis of most alternating-current machinery

Nikola had previously said it expected to finalize terms prior to Sept. 30. GM affirmed on Wednesday that the talks with Nikola continue.

The resignation marks a remarkable fall from grace for Milton, a 39-year-old college dropout whose fortune soared when he took Nikola public through a reverse merger in June

Tesla shares fell as much as 20 per cent in intra-day trade on Tuesday, the biggest one-day loss since early February

Barra on Tuesday called the Nikola deal a "strong validation" of GM's strategy

The 75th anniversary of Tesla's death on January 7 provides a timely opportunity to review the life of a man who came from nowhere yet became world famous