Tesla shares surged Friday afternoon after CEO Elon Musk hinted the company would unveil a flying version of its long-delayed Roadster sports car before the end of 2025.
In an episode of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ released Friday, Musk indicated Tesla was nearing a prototype demonstration of the next-generation Roadster — and hinted at capabilities beyond traditional road vehicles.
“Well, you know, my friend Peter Thiel once reflected that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don’t have flying cars,” Musk said.
When Rogan pressed further, Musk added: “I think if Peter wants a flying car, we should be able to buy one.”
Stock Rebounds on Roadster Confirmation
Tesla shares bounced $14 from the session’s lows after Musk’s comments, closing up 3.47% at $456.56 on Friday. The stock had reached an intraday high of $457.73 earlier in the session.
The rally came as investors digested both Musk’s confirmation of a year-end demonstration and his suggestion the vehicle could incorporate flight technology.
“Crazy Technology”
Musk described the upcoming Roadster as featuring “some crazy technology” and promised its unveiling would be “unforgettable.”
“If you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it’s crazier than that,” the CEO said, comparing the vehicle to fictional spy gadgets.
He confirmed the new Roadster would differ significantly from previous prototypes Tesla has publicly displayed.
Years of Delays and Redesigns
The new Roadster has become one of Tesla‘s most delayed products.
Originally scheduled to begin production in 2020, the sports car has faced multiple postponements as the company prioritized mass-market vehicles and expanded its manufacturing footprint.
In February 2024, Musk wrote on X that Tesla had “radically increased the design goals for the new Tesla Roadster. There will never be another car like this, if you could even call it a car.”
At the time, he said the “production design [would be] complete and unveil[ed by] end of year, aiming to ship next year”—a timeline that did not materialize.
Tesla produced the original Roadster from 2008 to 2012 before discontinuing it to focus on the Model S sedan and subsequent vehicles.
The first-generation Roadster was Tesla‘s debut production vehicle.
OpenAI’s CEO Cancels Order
Musk’s comments came less than 24 hours after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly shared his frustration with the delays, posting his attempt to cancel a Roadster reservation made more than seven years ago.
“I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait,” Altman wrote in a post that garnered millions of views on X.
The incident highlighted growing impatience among early reservation holders, some of whom placed $250,000 deposits as far back as 2017.
Design Team Confirms Timeline
In last week’s episode of the ‘Ride the Lightning’ podcast, Tesla’s Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen revealed that the company is “planning on this year” for the Roadster unveiling.
According to von Holzhausen, the vehicle will be available for delivery “within two years” from now—suggesting production could begin in 2027.
The confirmation came months after Tesla‘s VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy indicated the Roadster remained under active development.
“We’re getting close to demonstrating the prototype,” Musk told Rogan. “One thing I can guarantee is that this product demo will be unforgettable.”
