Eight years after Tesla CEO Elon Musk first teased an updated version of the Roadster, building on the legacy of the company’s 2008 debut EV, the perpetually delayed sports car is once again in the spotlight.
During a recent conversation published Friday with podcaster Joe Rogan, Musk addressed the long-awaited vehicle, offering a vague timeframe for its unveiling but remaining tight-lipped about updated technical specifications or design details. “I can’t do the unveil before the unveil,” Musk stated, reiterating his previous claim that the new Roadster “has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever.” Tesla is reportedly aiming to showcase the updated Roadster to fans and investors “hopefully before the end of the year.”
Musk’s comments arrive shortly after Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and a one-time close friend of Musk, publicly aired his frustrations regarding his long-standing Roadster reservation from 2018. Altman posted on X that he attempted to cancel his reservation and receive a refund of his deposit, but his email bounced back. “I really was excited for the car!” Altman wrote. “And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.” The public airing of this frustration highlights the growing impatience surrounding the Roadster’s protracted development.
The timing of Musk’s renewed focus on the Roadster, coinciding with Altman’s public complaint, hasn’t gone unnoticed by industry observers. Patrick George, editor-in-chief at InsideEVs, suggested to CNBC that Altman’s attempt to cancel his Roadster reservation prompted Musk to address the vehicle’s status once again.
Marques Brownlee, a prominent tech and automotive reviewer, has also spoken about the difficult process of cancelling his own Roadster reservation.
The Roadster is positioned as a high-performance, low-volume model, intended to compete with vehicles that push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology. This market segment includes competitors like BYD’s YangWang U9 Xtreme, which recently claimed the title of the world’s fastest production car, suggesting Tesla seeks to reclaim performance benchmarks.
Meanwhile, Musk faces a crucial Tesla shareholder vote next week, where investors will decide on a substantial pay package. The proposed compensation plan could grant Musk nearly $1 trillion in Tesla stock, potentially increasing his stake in the company to approximately 25%, contingent on Tesla achieving specific market valuations and growth targets. The shareholder vote and the buzz surrounding the Roadster highlight a pivotal moment for Tesla, balancing future product ambition with ongoing executive compensation discussions.
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