Tesla Says Roadster Is Currently in Testing, Will Be Built In Texas
During a special episode of the Ride the Lightning podcast celebrating the retirement of the Model S and Model X, host Ryan McCaffrey managed to extract some details about Tesla's next flagship vehicle, the Tesla Roadster 2.0. Speaking with Tesla's Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen, and Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy, the conversation shifted to the long-delayed next-generation Roadster. The executives confirmed the vehicle’s manufacturing location and offered a glimpse into the vehicle's current development status. Made in TexasSince its original unveiling in 2017, one of the mysteries surrounding the Roadster has been where Tesla actually plans to build it. Realistically, only Fremont or Giga Texas could house the production line unless Tesla built a factory in a different location, such as Nevada, where the Semi is produced. When McCaffrey asked directly where the car would be manufactured, von Holzhausen finally provided a definitive answer. "I think we can say it's going to be built in Texas," von Holzhausen confirmed.He noted that the footprint of Gigafactory Texas provides plenty of room for the new assembly line. He also confirmed that the team has already begun planning the vehicle's layout and production at the Austin facility. Alpha Prototypes and Pure PerformanceMoravy expanded on the Roadster's engineering progress, revealing that the decision to cancel the Model S Plaid Plus is what truly allowed the team to bring the Roadster back into active development. He confirmed that all of the company's performance-focused engineering energy is now squarely aimed at the sports car.To prove that the vehicle is making progress, Moravy casually dropped an update on the testing phase. He noted that the engineering team is excited because new alpha prototypes are "going around right now doing some work" behind the scenes.When the host guessed that the new Roadster might feature a four-motor powertrain, Moravy kept the exact specifications close to the chest but promised a revolutionary approach to the hardware."It's the first time I think we've really been able to think about a motor in a pure performance mentality," Moravy explained.The Upcoming Re-RevealTesla owners and fans have been eagerly awaiting the promised "re-reveal" of the Roadster, which CEO Elon Musk previously teased would feature mind-bending new capabilities. According to von Holzhausen, that wait is nearing its end. "I think you'll see a lot of things start to unfold in the next months," von Holzhausen teased.With alpha prototypes already testing and a manufacturing home officially secured in Texas, the next-generation Roadster appears closer to reality than ever before.You can watch the entire episode of the podcast below, with the Roadster piece beginning at the 52:15 mark.
Segment begins at the 52:15 mark of the video.
