Tesla has scheduled the next-generation Roadster reveal for October 1, 2026, following years of delayed timelines and teased performance targets. The company confirmed the date with a three-word post on X declaring “Go for launch,” ending speculation about the timing.
Tesla also updated its official Roadster website with a countdown to the unveiling. The page shows a shadowed render that, when inverted, reveals an angular rear end, an aggressive aerodynamic wing, and four plumes indicating cold gas thrusters firing from the back of the deck.
Tesla Roadster Launch Event
- Pacific Time: October 1, 5:30 PM
- Eastern Time: October 1, 8:30 PM
- UTC: October 2, 12:30 AM
- London, England: October 2, 1:30 AM
- Berlin, Germany: October 2, 2:30 AM
- Sydney, Australia: October 2, 10:30 AM
Invitations are being sent to early reservation holders. Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) shared the official digital ticket on X, confirming the gathering will be held in Waco, Texas, roughly ninety minutes north of Tesla’s Austin headquarters.
Attendees must submit their RSVPs before midnight on September 16. Entry is non-transferable and limited to guests aged 21 and older, with food and refreshments provided.
Cold Gas Thrusters and Lofty Promises
The official date follows recent comments from design chief Franz von Holzhausen, who said the Roadster is coming “very soon,” noting during an appearance on Jay Leno's Garage that the wait was almost over.
Earlier this year, Franz von Holzhausen and Lars Moravy confirmed the Roadster was in active testing, with Gigafactory Texas identified as the production site. Tesla also filed several new trademarks for the next-gen vehicle.
Expectations remain high. Elon Musk has repeatedly said the public demonstration will be “unforgettable,” and has touted a sub-2-second 0-60 mph time. He has also hinted that an optional SpaceX package with cold gas thrusters could allow the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than one second or briefly “fly” above the asphalt.
A Long Road to Waco
The path from concept to production has been lengthy. Tesla first revealed the second-generation Roadster in November 2017, putting the platform close to its ten-year mark.
Over the past year, the planned public debut slipped several times. Target dates moved from an original internal goal of April 1, 2026, to May, then from June to later in the summer, then August, before landing on October.
It is not yet known whether the public demo will include live customer test drives or a full production specification overview. It is also unclear whether Tesla will livestream the event; the Cybercab launch earlier this month was not livestreamed.
With invitations out and the countdown underway, reservation holders who placed five-figure deposits years ago are about to see what Tesla has developed.
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