Tesla delays reveal of production Roadster 2 to April Fools’ Day

Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated Thursday the corporate will reveal the manufacturing model of its second-generation Roadster supercar on April 1, 2026 — almost 9 years after he first revealed the undertaking.

Musk, who is legendary for lacking deadlines, stated throughout Tesla’s annual shareholder assembly that he selected April Fools’ Day partially as a result of it affords “some deniability.”

“Like, I may say I used to be simply kidding” if it occurs to be later, he stated.

Revealing the manufacturing model of the brand new Roadster subsequent 12 months is in itself a delay. Only one week in the past he appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and repeated his declare that he needed to point out off the automotive by 12 months’s finish.

Musk confused Thursday the automotive “will probably be very totally different from what was proven beforehand,” and once more teased that the demo would be the “most fun, whether or not it really works or not, demo ever of any product” — a not-so-sly nod to the truth that he’s spent years attempting to make the brand new Roadster fly in some style, probably with SpaceX-built thrusters.

Musk went on to say that he believes the second-generation Roadster gained’t go into manufacturing till 12 to 18 months after the April reveal.

Through the Q&A portion of the assembly, one shareholder requested Musk if clients who preordered the “Founders Sequence” model of the brand new Roadsters could possibly be invited to the reveal occasion. These had been the shoppers who plopped down $250,000 to safe particular variations of the automotive in 2017.

“Positive, completely,” Musk answered. “It’s the least we are able to do for our long-suffering Roadster reservation holders.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was a kind of long-time victims who lately attempted to cancel the reservation — and initially didn’t get a refund — for the long-promised EV.

Earlier this month, Altman posted on X a “story in three acts,” which was comprised of a number of screenshots displaying his preliminary reservation, a request for a refund of the $50,000 reservation payment, and his electronic mail bouncing again.

“I actually was excited for the automotive!” Altman wrote. “And I perceive delays. However 7.5 years has felt like a very long time to attend.”

Musk, who has overtly sparred with Altman for years, went on the assault. “And also you forgot to say act 4, the place this situation was fastened and also you acquired a refund inside 24 hours,” Musk wrote. “However that’s in your nature.”