Tesla has submitted a trademark for a custom Roadster badge as the unveiling of the nine-year-old supercar approaches, a reveal that has been delayed year after year since 2020.

      **TL;DR** Tesla has applied for a unique Roadster badge trademark, marking its first independent vehicle branding besides the Cybertruck. Originally promised in 2017 for delivery in 2020, the car remains unproduced, with its reveal now anticipated in late May or June 2026.

      Tesla has submitted a trademark for a distinctive Roadster badge resembling those found on a Lamborghini. This vehicle was first announced nine years ago.

      A prototype was showcased in November 2017, featuring a 200 kilowatt-hour battery, a claimed range of 620 miles, a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, and a starting price of $200,000. Production was initially planned for 2020, but this has not materialized in that year or any following year.

      The trademark application, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 28 on an intent-to-use basis, includes a stylized triangular shield with the Roadster name and four vertical lines that the filing says signify "speed, propulsion, heat, or wind." This filing is the most concrete progress Tesla has made regarding the Roadster in nearly ten years.

      **The Badge**

      This trademark application is atypical for Tesla. Aside from the Cybertruck's angular emblem, the company has not assigned a standalone badge to any of its vehicles, with the Model S, 3, X, and Y featuring Tesla's corporate T logo. The Roadster is receiving custom branding usually reserved for supercar brands, featuring a dedicated shield, a unique wordmark in a stretched angular font with segmented letters, and a distinct silhouette comprising three flowing curved lines representing the vehicle’s profile.

      Tesla has filed two separate trademark applications: the first is a stylized "ROADSTER" wordmark within a triangular shield, and the second is the vehicle's silhouette. Both applications are on an intent-to-use basis, indicating Tesla's intention to commercially use these marks in the future.

      In 2022, Elon Musk explicitly deprioritized the Roadster in favor of the Cybertruck, stating that the latter would be launched first. The Cybertruck eventually debuted in late 2023 following its own series of delays. The Roadster has been in a continual state of anticipation since then, with Musk providing periodic updates that largely extended the timeline.

      During Tesla's first-quarter 2026 earnings call, Musk stated that the Roadster would potentially be revealed "maybe in a month or so," suggesting a timeframe of late May or early June 2026 for the event. He characterized the forthcoming announcement as “one of the most exciting product unveils ever." If the reveal occurs as planned, it will mark the first time in nine years that a public commitment regarding the Roadster has been fulfilled.

      **The Promises**

      The Roadster's specifications have changed during the delays, becoming more ambitious. The original prototype claimed a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, but Musk adjusted the target in 2021 to 1.1 seconds, later pushing the aim to under one second in 2024.

      An optional SpaceX package, first mentioned in 2018, would reportedly incorporate about ten cold-air rocket thrusters within the vehicle's body to improve cornering, braking, and acceleration. Musk has hinted that these thrusters could allow the vehicle to "fly," although the definition of flying in this context is vague. The 620-mile range claimed in 2017 has not changed, nor has the base price of $200,000, which was established nearly ten years ago.

      Tesla has increased its capital expenditure for 2026 to $25 billion, allocated to six different production lines including the Cybercab robotaxi, Semi truck, next-gen vehicle platforms, Optimus humanoid robots, energy storage, and battery manufacturing. The Roadster is not highlighted as a priority in this financial allocation.

      According to Musk during the earnings call, production would begin 12 to 18 months after the vehicle is revealed, pointing to a start date potentially in mid-to-late 2027 or into 2028. Customers who placed $50,000 deposits for the Founders Series edition back in 2017 will have waited more than a decade for delivery if this timeline holds.

      **The Market**

      When the Roadster was announced in 2017, the electric supercar market was virtually non-existent. The Rimac Concept Two was still a prototype, the Lotus Evija was years from production, and the Pininfarina Battista had not yet been unveiled.

      Fast forward nine years, and the supercar market has expanded significantly. Rimac has been delivering the Nevera since 2023, which boasts a production record acceleration time of 1.74 seconds to 60 mph. The Lucid Air Sapphire offers 1,234 horsepower for $249,000. Porsche has accelerated its electrification efforts with the all-electric Cayenne and updates