He said Roadster buyers at $100,000 help pay for development of the lower-cost cars to follow.
"So in fact, anyone who does buy the, the Tesla Roadster, the sports car at $100,000 is helping pay for the development of the lower cost cars to follow."
What is the new Tesla Roadster?
Q12713 answers2009-2026
Short answer
He said the production car will actually do better than the demo figures shown.
All 13 answers, oldest to newest
He said the Roadster shows an electric vehicle can outperform a gasoline car in every way.
"And I think it's important for us to show with the roadster that an electric vehicle can outperform a gasoline car in every way."
Announces a SpaceX option package for the new Roadster with about 10 small rocket thrusters.
"SpaceX option package for new Tesla Roadster will include ~10 small rocket thrusters arranged seamlessly around car. These rocket engines dramatically improve acceleration, top speed, braking & cornering."
Says the new Roadster is meant to beat gas sports cars on every performance metric and move the halo effect to electric cars.
"Intent of new Tesla Roadster is to beat gas sports cars on every performance metric by far, no exceptions, thus transferring the “halo crown” effect gas cars have as the top speed leaders over to pure electric."
Says the trade-off is that the Roadster becomes a two-seater, with the pressure vessel in place of the kid seats.
"Trade is just that Roadster becomes a 2 seater instead of a 2+2. COPV in place of the kid seats, which is prob wise for many reasons"
Promises the next-generation Roadster will be out of this world for people who love to drive.
"You have my word, Marques. Next gen Roadster will be absolutely out of this world. For those who love to drive, there is no finer car in history and we don’t think there will be another."
He said most of the Roadster engineering was done but Tesla still wanted to add some upgrades.
"We've completed most of the engineering and I think there's still some upgrades we want to make to it."
He thanks Roadster deposit holders and says Tesla is close to finalizing the design.
"we are actually finally making progress on that. And we're, we're close to finalizing the design on that."
He said the new Roadster demo was tentatively set for April 1, 2026, with production about 12 to 18 months later.
"that that demo event will be April 1st of next year"
He said that apart from the next-generation Roadster, which he hoped to debut in April 2026, Tesla will make only autonomous vehicles.
"with the exception of the next generation Roadster, which we're hoping to debut in April"
He said the new Roadster is not necessarily a safety-optimized car, but takes the fun meter to 11 out of 10.
"Now, I should say that this is not necessarily a safety optimized car."
He said it will be an actual car on the roads that someone can own, though perhaps not legal in all jurisdictions.
"Like, this will be an actual car that's on the roads."
He said the production car will actually do better than the demo figures shown.
"So the production car will actually do better than that."