Overview
- Sam Altman shared screenshots showing a July 2018 Roadster reservation with a $45,000 payment and a recent refund request for $50,000 that bounced from a Tesla email address.
- Elon Musk responded on X saying the issue was resolved and a refund was issued within 24 hours, a claim not independently detailed by Tesla or Altman’s representatives.
- Tesla’s next‑gen Roadster, unveiled in 2017 and still listed in design development, has faced repeated delays that have prompted some high‑profile customers, including MKBHD, to cancel reservations and report refund hassles.
- Recent signals point to possible activity on the program, including a Tesla job listing tied to Roadster battery manufacturing and chief designer Franz von Holzhausen reiterating plans for an unveil later this year.
- Musk told Joe Rogan the company aims to demo the updated Roadster before year‑end and touted "crazy" technology, while the public exchange with Altman extends their broader legal and competitive rivalry in AI.