Overview
- Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, told Jay Leno on his show that the next‑generation Roadster is coming “very soon,” but he gave no date, specifications, or production timeline.
- Reporting shows recent behind‑the‑scenes activity, including a ramp up in design work last year and multiple trademark filings this year that signal program movement without a verified launch plan.
- Sources have identified a technical dependency on a SpaceX cold‑gas thruster package known internally as the A71, and early prototypes shown in April were reportedly not ready for a public demo.
- Tesla has repeatedly shifted promised demo dates since the car’s 2017 unveiling and early reservation holders who put down deposits of roughly $50,000–$250,000 remain without deliveries.
- Elon Musk has publicly said the Roadster ranks below higher‑priority projects such as AI, autonomy, and robotics, leaving the vehicle’s actual timing uncertain and raising reputational and financial concerns for long‑waiting depositors.