Tesla’s Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen is once again hinting that the company’s long-awaited next-generation Roadster is finally getting close to its big reveal.
During a recent appearance with Jay Leno, von Holzhausen was asked about the Roadster and when people can expect to see the electric sports car that Tesla first unveiled nearly a decade ago.
His answer was short, “Very soon. Very soon,” von Holzhausen said. Leno followed with a quick poke at just how long the Roadster has been in development, asking, “Ten years?”
“Just shy of ten years,” von Holzhausen replied.
Jay Leno asked Franz von Holzhausen about the long-awaited Tesla Roadster in his latest video:
— Oli (@CARN0N) August 10, 2026
Franz: “Very soon. Very soon.”
Jay: “Ten years?”
Franz: “Just shy of ten years.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/ucbp5ybChO
Before this, the most recent update on the Roadster reveal also came from von Holzhausen. During Tesla Takeover Europe in Austria in June, Tesla’s longtime design chief said a Roadster demonstration was coming “in a few weeks.” Those comments came just days after a report suggested the reveal was facing another delay into August, which now appears to be coming true.
August Roadster Reveal Looking Increasingly Likely
Neither of von Holzhausen’s recent comments provides a firm date, but they add more weight to a report that Tesla is preparing to show off the Roadster in August.
As we previously reported, The Information said Tesla had delayed a planned Roadster unveiling by roughly two months, pushing the event to August. CEO Elon Musk had previously indicated during Tesla’s Q1 earnings call that the demonstration could happen in late May or early June, after initially saying it was happening in April (after previously targeting a late 2025 debut…you get the pattern).
At first glance, von Holzhausen saying “a few weeks” appeared to conflict with the reported August delay. However, with August now here, his latest “very soon” comments fit much more closely with that reported timeline.
Tesla has yet to publicly announce an event or provide an official date.
Nearly a Decade Since the Roadster’s Debut
Leno’s joke also puts a spotlights on just how long Tesla fans and reservation holders have been waiting. Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster in November 2017, targeting an initial production start of 2020. That date came and went, followed by numerous other timelines as Tesla prioritized higher-volume vehicles and, more recently, autonomy and Robotaxi development.
The Roadster itself has also evolved considerably since that original unveiling. Musk has repeatedly teased a SpaceX package using cold-gas thrusters. Musk has gone as far as suggesting the technology could allow the Roadster to briefly lift off the ground.
For now, Tesla is still keeping the details, and more importantly, the date, under wraps. But with von Holzhausen twice discussing the Roadster’s unveil as happening “very soon,” and August already underway, the wait to see what Tesla has been developing could finally be nearing its end. But don’t hold your breath just in case.
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