The year was 2017, and Elon Musk had just taken the wraps off the second-generation Tesla Roadster. The Roadster’s specifications were stunning: 0-60 mph in under two seconds and 620 miles of range on a single charge. The best part? It was promised to hit the road by 2020. Thousands of buyers put down deposits ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 and began the hopeful wait. Seven and a half years later, the Roadster hasn’t even entered production yet, and most people aren’t able to get refunds.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently posted on how he tried cancelling his reservation in order to request a refund, but he wasn’t able to. The tech billionaire and former close friend of Elon Musk, who helped set up OpenAI, stated that even though he was really excited about the Roadster, seven and half years is a really long wait. Altman’s post going viral might’ve prompted Musk to drop hints on The Joe Rogan podcast that Tesla is working on a new version of the Roadster, which will be ready for the world to see before the end of the year. This sounds like something we’ve heard before though…
A tale in three acts: pic.twitter.com/ClRZBgT24g
— Sam Altman (@sama) October 30, 2025
The Roadster Refund Process is a Nightmare
Ever since first missing the 2020 deadline for Roadster deliveries, Musk has been promising that Roadster production would start in the coming year. At this point, it’s a bit of a running joke in some circles. Understandably, people want out. While Tesla’s website promised fully refundable deposits, many customers report that the reservation page has no cancellation option. Further, the email address and phone number don’t yield a response.
Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee previously documented his painful refund process, which was ultimately successful. So, though the road to Tesla Roadster refunds is difficult, it did seem like people were getting their money back. Sam Altman’s troubles with requesting a refund just seem to be a part of the process.
Tesla
New Roadster in Development for 2025 Unveiling?
While Musk saying a new version of the Roadster is being developed for an unveiling in 2025 may sound like a mere response to Altman’s post on social media, there may actually be some basis for it this time. Tesla recently posted its first job listing specifically for Roadster production, seeking a Manufacturing Engineer for battery manufacturing equipment, with the description noting the Roadster is still in its early development stages.
It’s been nearly a full decade since the original unveiling of the Roadster. While Tesla may play loose with deadlines, it looks like this time around, it may actually be true. If that’s the case, hopefully the people who’ve waited all these years for their Roadster will finally get the vindication they deserve.