Tesla set an October 1, 2026 unveiling date for its second‑generation Roadster, its first firm timeline since the model’s November 2017 debut.
Launch timeline confirmed on X
On 12 Sept 2026 the automaker posted a graphic on X that read “10.01” with the caption “Go for launch,” signalling the October 1 unveiling. The post was reported by TechCrunch, which quoted the graphic directly.
The same X graphic hinted at “cold‑gas thrusters” – a technology being developed by SpaceX, Musk’s space‑flight company – suggesting an optional performance add‑on for the Roadster.
Production will lag 12‑18 months
Elon Musk has previously said that even after the public reveal, the Roadster will not enter production for another 12 to 18 months. TechCrunch cites Musk’s earlier comments to confirm that the production lead time remains unchanged.
That means the earliest serial‑production start could be as early as early 2028, with a later window extending into mid‑2028.
Tesla’s financial backdrop
Tesla’s most recent Form 10‑Q, filed 23 July 2026, shows a revenue of $50.623 billion for the six‑month period ending 30 June 2026, up from the same period a year earlier (the filing does not provide a direct YoY comparison, so the figure is reported as‑is). Net income for the quarter was $1.591 billion.
Assets total $148.524 billion, while shareholders’ equity stands at $86.858 billion. The company had 3.949 billion shares outstanding at period end.
| Metric | Value | Unit | Period end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 50,623,000,000 | USD | 2026‑06‑30 |
| Net income | 1,591,000,000 | USD | 2026‑06‑30 |
| Total assets | 148,524,000,000 | USD | 2026‑06‑30 |
| Shareholders’ equity | 86,858,000,000 | USD | 2026‑06‑30 |
| Shares outstanding | 3,949,000,000 | shares | 2026‑06‑30 |
| Source: Tesla Form 10‑Q (filed 23 July 2026), SEC EDGAR | |||
Tesla employs roughly 7,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The company, founded on 1 July 2003, trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker TSLA and reports a fiscal year ending 31 December.
What remains unknown
The X post did not disclose pricing, final specifications, or the exact production start date beyond the 12‑18 month window. Tesla has not said how many of the planned 7,000 employees will be allocated to Roadster production, nor has it provided a detailed rollout schedule for the optional cold‑gas thrusters.
Investors will be watching the October event for any clues on pricing, range, and whether the thruster option will be offered as a factory‑installed feature or an aftermarket add‑on.
Until the company releases more detail, the timeline remains the most concrete piece of information available.