Eight years ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled plans for a next-generation Roadster, naming it after the company’s first electric vehicle from 2008. Despite years of anticipation, the updated model has not yet entered production. Musk, however, reaffirmed in a recent conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan that a new Roadster is still on the horizon. While he did not reveal technical or design specifics, Musk hinted that the unveiling could be “the most memorable product reveal ever” and said Tesla hopes to present it to fans and investors “hopefully before the end of the year.”
Musk’s comments followed a post by former friend Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, who tried to cancel his 2018 Roadster reservation and reclaim his deposit, sharing a screenshot of a bounced email. Altman expressed frustration over the 7.5-year delay.
Industry observers note the Roadster has been absent for years, and some speculate Musk’s renewed mentions are linked to Altman’s post. The luxury, low-volume Roadster is intended to compete with top supercars like BYD’s YangWang U9 Xtreme. Meanwhile, Musk faces a shareholder vote on a massive Tesla pay package worth nearly $1 trillion, contingent on performance milestones.