Tesla Design Chief Stands by “Very Soon” Release Schedule for Next-Gen Roadster

Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen reaffirmed a highly ambiguous “very soon” timeline for the upcoming next-generation Roadster. The executive made the claim during a recent appearance on Jay Leno’s Garage while showcasing his custom V8-swapped Pontiac Solstice. When pressed by Leno regarding the actual status of the long-awaited electric supercar, von Holzhausen doubled down on the vague release window. The unyielding response prompted the former late-night host to dryly note that the highly touted vehicle has been in active development for just shy of a decade.

First revealed to the public in November 2017, the disruptive electric hypercar has missed countless production and demonstration targets. The brand originally promised to begin building the vehicle by 2020. That deadline slipped to 2022, then 2023 and subsequently 2024. CEO Elon Musk recently established a demonstration date of April 2026 before shifting expectations once again to August. Current reports indicate that the overarching aesthetic design is complete, but integrating an optional SpaceX cold gas thruster system remains a formidable technical hurdle. Internally dubbed A71, this aerospace hardware is intended to deliver unprecedented acceleration alongside potential vertical lift capabilities. The thruster package simply was not ready for a spring showcase.

Continuous engineering delays highlight a broader operational reality for the pioneering automaker, where ambitious performance promises frequently outpace actual manufacturing timelines. Despite repeated setbacks over the years, Tesla maintains the exact same original hardware specifications for the base model. The aggressive initial pitch includes a zero to 60 mph launch in 1.9 seconds, a 250 mph top speed and a staggering 620 miles of driving range per charge. Pricing currently sits at $200,000 for the standard variant.

Early adopters continue to shoulder the most significant financial burden of this drawn-out development process. Enthusiastic reservation holders for the limited Founders Series put down $250,000 deposits nearly nine years ago. These loyal supporters have watched their substantial funds remain tied up as they wait for a finalized transition from conceptual prototype to tangible volume production. Even if the newly promised technical demonstration materializes in the coming weeks, widespread manufacturing and actual customer deliveries would likely not commence until 2027 or 2028.