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

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Thursday that the long-awaited second-generation Roadster will finally be revealed on April 1, 2026 — nearly nine years after the project was first introduced.

Speaking during Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting, Musk joked that he chose April Fools’ Day for the reveal because it offers “some deniability.”

“Like, I could say I was just kidding,” he quipped, acknowledging his reputation for missing product deadlines.

Another Delay for Tesla’s Most Ambitious Car

The announcement marks yet another delay in the rollout of Tesla’s next supercar. Just a week ago, Musk appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he suggested that the company aimed to show off the car by the end of this year.

On Thursday, Musk admitted that the production version of the Roadster would be “very different from what was shown previously.” He also teased that its unveiling would be the “most exciting demo ever” — whether it succeeds or fails.

“It will be very different from what was shown previously,” Musk said. “This will be the most exciting, whether it works or not, demo ever of any product.”

The Tesla chief has long hinted that the new Roadster could incorporate SpaceX-designed thrusters to achieve brief bursts of flight. This idea remains unconfirmed but continues to fuel speculation.

Production Still More Than a Year Away

Despite setting a reveal date, Musk cautioned that production will likely begin 12 to 18 months later, meaning the first Roadsters might not roll off the assembly line until mid-to-late 2027.

That timeline would mark a decade since Musk first unveiled the new Roadster concept in November 2017, which promised record-breaking acceleration and over 600 miles of range per charge.

Preorder Holders Finally Get Some Recognition

During a Q&A segment, one shareholder asked whether “Founders Series” customers — those who put down $250,000 deposits in 2017 for special-edition Roadsters — would be invited to the 2026 reveal event.

“Sure, absolutely,” Musk replied. “It’s the least we can do for our long-suffering Roadster reservation holders.”

Among those early buyers was OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who recently expressed his frustration over Tesla’s repeated delays.

The Altman Exchange

Earlier this month, Altman posted a “tale in three acts” on X (formerly Twitter), showing screenshots of his 2018 Roadster reservation, a refund request for his $50,000 deposit, and a bounced email after attempting to cancel.

“I really was excited for the car!” Altman wrote. “And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.”

Musk — who has clashed with Altman for years over OpenAI’s direction and ownership structure — responded sharply.

“And you forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours,” Musk replied. “But that is in your nature.”

Looking Ahead

If Musk’s new timeline holds, the 2026 Roadster reveal could coincide with a broader Tesla push into next-generation electric vehicles, such as the Cybercab robotaxi, set to begin production the same year.

Whether the Roadster’s long-promised thrusters and “hover mode” make it into the production model remains to be seen. Still, fforTesla’s patient reservation holders, April 2026 may finally bring the car they’ve been waiting for since the last decade.