Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced at the company's shareholder meeting that the next-generation Roadster demo has been pushed back to April 1, 2026, with production slated for mid-to-late 2027. This marks another delay for the high-performance electric sports car, originally unveiled in 2017 with a 2020 release target. Musk described the upcoming reveal as potentially the most exciting product demo ever, hinting at significant differences from prior concepts.
The Tesla Roadster has faced repeated delays since its 2017 unveiling, when it was promised for a 2020 launch. Just last week, Musk indicated a demo would occur by year's end, calling it perhaps the most exciting product demonstration in history and claiming the vehicle would feature more technology than all James Bond cars combined. However, during Tesla's shareholder meeting on November 6, 2025, Musk revised the timeline.
In response to a question about the project's status, Musk stated: "The product unveil of the Roadster 2, which will be very different than what we’ve shown previously, that demo event will be April 1 of next year. I have some deniability because I can say I was just kidding. But we are actually tentatively aiming for April 1, for what I think will be the most exciting, whether it works or not, demo of any product. And then I guess production is probably about 12-18 months after that."
When the questioner expressed skepticism, Musk replied: "Well, I can’t give away secrets, but you won’t be disappointed." He added that Founders' Series reservation holders, who paid $250,000 deposits eight years ago, would be invited to the event.
This update delays the demo by at least three months from the previously announced end-of-2025 target. Production is now expected to begin around April 2027 at the earliest, potentially extending to October 2027 or later, pushing availability to 2028—11 years after the initial reveal. A recent job listing for a "concept development" engineer suggests early-stage work continues, which may indicate the 2027 timeline could be optimistic.
Musk has teased advanced features, including the possibility of the Roadster "flying," though he clarified such technologies would not extend to other Tesla models. The announcement comes amid competition from other high-performance EVs, like the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and Rimac Nevera R, which have set speed and lap records in the Roadster's absence.
