Tesla to unveil second-gen Roadster on October 1
Original: Tesla says it will finally unveil the second generation Roadster on October 1
Why This Matters
A reveal after nearly nine years of delays signals whether Tesla can still deliver on its high-profile flagship products.
Tesla announced via X on September 12, 2026 that it will unveil the second-generation Roadster on October 1, posting a graphic with '10.01' and hinting at optional SpaceX-developed cold gas thrusters. The car was originally announced in November 2017 and has faced repeated delays.
Tesla posted 'Go for launch' on X alongside a graphic marked '10.01,' confirming an October 1 reveal for its long-delayed second-generation Roadster. The graphic appears to reference the optional cold gas thrusters developed by SpaceX — Elon Musk's rocket company — which were previously promised to give the car some form of airborne capability. Originally announced in November 2017, the next-gen Roadster has been pushed back repeatedly over nearly nine years. The delays even spilled into public view when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to social media to complain that '7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait' after paying a $50,000 reservation fee — a claim Musk disputed, saying Altman had received a refund. The Information reported recently that Tesla had scrapped the original 2017 design entirely in favor of a new, undisclosed concept. Even after the October 1 reveal, Musk has acknowledged production won't begin for another 12 to 18 months.