Nine years after announcing the next-gen Roadster, Musk pushes the supercar’s production reveal to April 1, 2026, teasing flying demos and poking rivals along the way.
Roadster Reveal Pushed (Again)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the long-awaited second-generation Roadster will now be revealed on April 1, 2026 — a symbolic date that offers “some deniability,” Musk joked at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting.
- Musk originally introduced the car in 2017, with production initially planned for 2020.
- He recently claimed on Joe Rogan’s podcast that the reveal would happen by end of 2025, making this announcement yet another public delay.
A Flying Roadster? Maybe.
Musk added that the production version will be “very different” from earlier prototypes and hyped the upcoming event as the most “exciting demo ever”, whether it works or not.
- He has long teased the idea of equipping the Roadster with SpaceX-built thrusters to make it hover or briefly fly.
- The April event could be the first real test of that bold vision — or just another viral stunt.
Don’t Expect Deliveries Soon
Even with the 2026 reveal, Musk said actual production of the Roadster likely won’t begin for 12 to 18 months afterward, meaning mid-to-late 2027 at the earliest.
- That puts the total time from concept reveal to potential delivery at nearly a decade.
- Tesla has provided few technical details or specs on the updated design.
Long Waits, Refund Fights, and Frustrated Fans
Thousands of customers have already waited years after placing deposits — some as high as $250,000 — for the “Founders Series” Roadster. When asked if those early supporters could attend the reveal, Musk replied:
“Sure, absolutely. It’s the least we can do for our long-suffering Roadster reservation holders.”
One such “sufferer” is OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who recently tried to cancel his $50,000 reservation and shared screenshots showing his refund request bouncing back.
- Altman posted the ordeal on X, calling it a “tale in three acts.”
- Musk fired back, accusing Altman of omitting Act 4, in which he claims Tesla issued a refund within 24 hours.
Their online exchange underscores both the frustration around Roadster delays and the personal tension between two of the tech world’s highest-profile CEOs.
From Halo Car to Vaporware?
The Roadster 2 was initially pitched as a halo product—boasting a 0–60 mph time of 1.9 seconds and a 620-mile range. But as Tesla focuses more heavily on robotaxis, AI, and high-volume vehicles, critics question whether the Roadster is more about hype than hardware.
- Despite past teasers, no production-ready prototypes have been shown.
- The Roadster has now spent longer in development than some automakers take to bring entire model lines to market.
Tesla will reveal the production version of its long-delayed Roadster 2 on April 1, 2026—nine years after its first announcement. Elon Musk teased a flying demo but confirmed production may not begin until 2027. Frustrated reservation holders, including Sam Altman, continue to seek answers—and refunds.
