Tesla is expected to unveil its new Roadster this Thursday, an electric sports car whose second generation was initially announced in 2017. Elon Musk promised that this car will have extreme performance, although the project has suffered several delays and does not yet have a defined delivery date according to the disclosed material.
This launch occurs at a time when the automaker is expanding its activities in the areas of artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and robotics, sectors that are gaining prominence in its corporate strategy.
When the prototype was presented in 2017, Tesla set a price of US$ 200 thousand (equivalent to about R$ 1 million) and predicted deliveries for 2020. This deadline was exceeded, but reservations remain available for US$ 50 thousand (approximately R$ 252 thousand).
In 2024, Musk informed via the X platform that the automobile underwent a redesign. The executive mentioned that the new version will be capable of reaching 100 km/h in under a second and highlighted a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, his rocket company, without specifying how this partnership will benefit the vehicle.
Commenting on the project, Musk stressed that acceleration would only be 'the least interesting part' of the car. Back in 2017, he had promised a range of one thousand kilometers on a single charge.
The presentation is scheduled to take place at a SpaceX test center located in McGregor, Texas. The event should also serve to reinforce the role this sports car can play in the automaker's image.
In 2023, Musk had downplayed the financial relevance of the Roadster, classifying it as a 'matter of little importance' and stating that it would not bring 'significant financial impact.' However, Seth Goldstein, an analyst at Morningstar, argues that the model's value lies in its ability to symbolize what the company achieves in the high-performance segment.
Goldstein stated in a note released last month that 'Tesla currently lacks a symbol car, meaning a high-performance luxury vehicle designed to show the best of the automaker's engineering and technology. The Roadster will be Tesla's new symbol car.' He estimated that Tesla would sell about 2 thousand units annually, considering the company sold 1.6 million vehicles the previous year.
The first Roadster, which was sold between 2008 and 2012, marked the beginning of Tesla's presence in the electric market, built on a Lotus Elise chassis and contributing to changing the perception of electric vehicle potential.
The arrival of this new generation of the sports car comes amid the automaker's realignment. This year, Tesla suspended sales of the Model S and Model X to free up space for the production of its humanoid robots, Optimus. Furthermore, the company introduced the Cybercab, a two-seater robotaxi that eliminates steering wheels, pedals, or mirrors.
This Thursday's reveal has the potential to clarify the current status of the project and provide details about the next steps for this car that was announced almost nine years ago.