by Second Generation Tesla Roadster: The Last Driver’s Car in the Era of Autopilots
Currently, there are three main lines of discussion surrounding the long-awaited second generation Tesla Roadster. First, what it should be like; second, what place it will occupy in the lineup; and finally, whether it has gotten even a little closer to actual production. Elon Musk’s new statement sheds light on the first question, attempts to answer the second, but raises even more questions regarding the third.
During the company’s latest conference call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said about the Roadster:
It will make sense for our entire lineup to consist of different autonomous vehicles of different sizes. In fact, in the long term, the only car with manual controls will be the new Tesla Roadster.
For many years, Tesla’s focus has shifted from cars that used performance in various categories for success to an almost full bet on autonomy. Musk’s comments do not abandon this idea; on the contrary, they reinforce it.
A Halo Car for Enthusiasts
Tesla is creating a very specific niche for the Roadster. It will be a halo car for people who still want to drive, even if the rest of the company’s products move away from this.
Production Issues and Timelines
However, the main problems with the Roadster remain. First shown in 2017, this car has become almost a meme due to numerous broken promises regarding deadlines, including a demonstration run scheduled for April 1st of this year. Now, in new documents for shareholders, Tesla lists the Roadster’s production site as “TBD” and its status as “Design Development.” This means the car is still years away from actual production start. Tesla’s initial promise was to launch the Roadster in 2020.
Theoretically, it is hard to be against Tesla’s ambitious goal of creating the “last best car for the driver.” We all want to see the boundaries of performance and power pushed to the edge. But at this stage, the Roadster seems more like a fairy tale than a reality.
It requires a lot of testing and verification before we can do a demonstration and not have anything go wrong during it, but I think it will be one of the most exciting product launches in history, — Musk said. — Yeah… it better be.
It is worth noting that, despite all the delays, the idea of creating a purely “driver’s” car in the era of total autonomy looks like an interesting marketing move. If Tesla can indeed release the Roadster, it will become not just a fast electric car, but a symbol of transition — the last breath of an era when a human, not artificial intelligence, held the steering wheel. However, given the current “design development” status and the lack of a production site, for now it looks more like a promise than a real plan. Whether a company that has thrown all its efforts into autopilots and robotaxis can find the resources and time to create such a niche product remains an open question.
