Tesla will present its next Roadster on April 1, 2026. Elon Musk announced this during the shareholder meeting. Choosing April Fools’ Day was intentional. Musk joked that if the date changed, he could say it was all a joke. Still, the date is official, and the team says they want the event to stand out. Musk says, “the demo will be unforgettable,” and he promises features not seen in any current car.
Elon Musk: Tesla Roadster unveil on April 1st 2026. | Video
Musk further said, “Tesla Roadster is very much sort of like, it’s not even the icing on the cake. It’s the cherry on the icing on the cake. It’s way beyond anything that’s ever existed. It’s like the coolest car, if it even is, a car that has ever, that will probably ever exist.”
Video:
Tesla first spoke about this car in 2017. Since then, production has been delayed many times. The original goal was to show off the car by the end of 2025, but that was not possible. Each year, updates shifted dates further. This has left a lot of buyers waiting a long time, and some have begun reconsidering their decisions. Musk’s updates on the Joe Rogan podcast show the repeated effort to get things finished, but ongoing problems stopped them from meeting early promises.
Pre-order troubles
People who made early deposits have become frustrated. Some tried to cancel. For example, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, tried to cancel but had trouble getting his money back. Tesla did give the refund after Altman posted his story online. Musk said buyers who paid for “Founders Series” Roadsters in 2017 will get special invitations to the unveiling event. “It’s the least we can do for our long-suffering Roadster reservation holders,” Musk commented.
Special packages
Musk has hinted at dramatic changes for this Roadster. He spoke about a possible “SpaceX package,” which might use cold-gas thrusters for quick acceleration. There is even talk that the car could hover, at least for a short time. Musk admits the car will be very different from what was shown in 2017. Final specs remain secret. Many transition words separate what fans expected and what might actually be delivered. Full details should arrive at the demo event in 2026.
Production plans
Tesla does not plan to start making the Roadster right after unveiling it. But, Musk believes production will begin 12 to 18 months after the event. If things go as planned, manufacturing could start somewhere in 2027 or even 2028. Musk insists that the wait will pay off thanks to new and unique tech.
Since 2017, Tesla has taken $50,000 deposits from people who wanted the Roadster. Some buyers joined referral promotions, earning discounts to buy a Roadster. There was even a rebate for those who reached a certain number of referrals. Early buyers are important to Tesla, so the company wants to make their experience better by giving them special access to major events.
Tesla officials say this Roadster isn’t just a remake. Musk claims it will outperform every Tesla made so far. Engineering delays slowed the project, but the company still believes the car will surprise everyone. People who have waited can expect key news during the 2026 event. If Musk’s team delivers as intended, the Roadster might change how people think about electric cars for performance. For now, most must wait to see the final product on April 1, 2026.
You may also like to read:
- Musk answers Altman’s complaint about Roadster refund »
- Tesla shareholders approve $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk »
- Tesla software rollout brings new 3D icons and mapping »
We’ve launched an official Tesla Owners Online Forum. Join early and claim your "Founding Fuel" badge.
