The saga of the Tesla Roadster has stretched over seven years, and despite Musk's repeated assurances that it is coming soon, the reality for eager customers is that the wait may just be beginning.
The new Roadster is not just seen as the flagship model for Tesla, with an initial price set at $250,000, and many customers even paying the full amount upfront.
However, instead of launching the vehicle into the market, Tesla has shifted focus to other projects like the Semi truck, Cybertruck, and now CyberCab and RoboVan.
During a recent quarterly earnings call, Musk apologized to 'long-suffering reservation holders', acknowledging that the Roadster simply isn’t as critical as some other brand projects, which is why its launch continues to be delayed.
He also expressed gratitude to those patiently waiting for their deposits, emphasizing that the Roadster is a core product for the company and considered the crown jewel of their lineup.
He stated that Tesla's mission is to accelerate progress towards a sustainable energy future and to try to do things that will increase the likelihood of a beneficial future for humanity and the planet.
While design is nearing completion, Musk previously revealed that Tesla plans to start production of the Roadster in 2025.
Although he did not specify whether this date has been delayed again, it is certainly possible that Tesla's ongoing development of the CyberCab could lead to further delays for the Roadster.