Tesla Exec Says Long-Delayed New Roadster Unveiling Could Happen ‘Within Weeks’

Published: Jun 08 2026, 01:20 AM EDT

Tesla executive says the long-delayed new Roadster could finally be unveiled within weeks, as Tesla targets an early June 2026 debut after multiple delays. Tesla Roadster - Official website

Tesla's long-delayed next-generation Roadster could finally be unveiled within weeks, after a senior executive said the electric supercar's debut is now targeted for early June 2026 following multiple schedule slips stretching back nearly a decade.

The latest timeline came during Tesla's Q1 2026 earnings call, where CEO Elon Musk said the company "may be able to debut [the Roadster] in a month or so," effectively shifting a previously promised late April unveiling into June.

He said the delay reflects the amount of testing and validation still required to stage a public demonstration, "and not have something go wrong with the demo," according to Teslarati.

Potential Unveiling of Next-Generation Tesla Roadster

The Roadster's status remained "design development" in Tesla's shareholder materials, underscoring that this is an unveiling of a near-final concept rather than the start of production.

Musk had earlier told shareholders that the Roadster 2 would be "very different" from the prototype first shown in 2017 and that the formal product demo event was initially planned for Apr. 1, 2026, at Gigafactory Texas.

In March, he shifted that target to "probably in late April" and reframed the event as an "unveil," signaling that design work and showcase plans were evolving. The new guidance of "within weeks" marks at least the eighth public adjustment to the Roadster program's timing since it was announced with a 2020 production goal.

Despite the repeated delays, Tesla is positioning the Roadster as a low-volume halo model that will sit above the Model S Plaid in performance and technology. Musk has said the car is designed to outperform the Model S Plaid, which already delivers 0–60 mph in around 2 seconds using a tri-motor powertrain.

He has repeatedly claimed the new Roadster will achieve 0–60 mph in under 1 second and has described the planned demo as potentially "one of the most spectacular" product unveilings ever, the New York Post reported.

Details Released so Far

Key technical details released so far include an all-wheel-drive layout with one motor at the front and two at the rear, a dedicated EV platform, and projected wheel torque of 7,376 lb-ft with a top speed above 250 mph.

Tesla is expected to use its 4680-format battery cells, with early prototypes built around a 200 kWh pack that could deliver up to 620 miles of highway range and support 350 kW DC fast charging, although these figures have not yet been confirmed for production.

Tesla still has not provided a firm start-of-production date, but Musk previously told investors that manufacturing would likely begin 12 to 18 months after the unveil, pointing to 2027 at the earliest.

The company plans to build the Roadster at its Texas factory, and recent executive comments indicate that engineers are testing alpha prototypes, working on a four-motor performance setup in some configurations, and finalizing the vehicle's layout for factory integration.

Reservation pricing previously started at $200,000 for the base model and $250,000 for a Founders Series, though Tesla has since removed pricing from its website and has not announced updated figures, as per AutoNotion.