Tesla’s long-promised Tesla Roadster is back in the headlines again, and this time, Elon Musk is making a pretty bold claim.
During Tesla’s latest earnings call, Musk said the upcoming Roadster could become the only future Tesla that people will actually drive themselves.
That’s because the company appears to be betting heavily on autonomous vehicles moving forward.
And if Musk follows through, traditional driving enthusiasts may not love where Tesla is headed.
Musk Says Tesla’s Future Is “Almost Entirely Autonomous”
During the company’s Q1 2026 financial presentation, an analyst asked Tesla about future vehicle plans.
That included potential new family vehicles and smaller models.
Instead, Musk shifted the conversation toward autonomy.
“In fact, long term, the only manually driven car will be the new Roadster,” Musk said during the call.
That suggests future Tesla products could prioritize self-driving capabilities over traditional driver engagement.
The Roadster Still Hasn’t Arrived
There’s just one problem. The second-generation Roadster still doesn’t exist as a production vehicle.
Tesla first revealed the car back in 2017. Since then, it has faced repeated delays.
Musk now claims Tesla could debut it “in a month or so,” though he also admitted it still requires significant testing and validation.
Tesla fans have heard similar timelines before.
Cybercab And Semi Are The Bigger Priority
Tesla appears far more focused on autonomous vehicles like the upcoming Tesla Cybercab. Musk said production has already started in Austin.
He also said the self-driving Tesla Semi will begin scaling production soon.
According to Musk, both vehicles will ramp up slowly before accelerating production later this year and into 2027.
That makes it pretty clear where Tesla’s priorities currently sit.
The Roadster May Be Cool, But It Won’t Drive Revenue
Musk also admitted the Roadster likely won’t have a major impact on Tesla’s finances.
“I don’t think it moves the needle massively from a revenue standpoint, but it is very cool,” he said.
That may be the most honest thing Tesla fans have heard about the Roadster in years.
If the car finally arrives, it could become one of the last reminders of a time when driving itself was still the main attraction.