Tesla Roadster: New Trademark Filings Revive Project

Tesla quietly filed two new trademarks for the Roadster with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on February 3, 2026. These documents arrive just ahead of the official unveiling promised by Elon Musk for April 1, 2026, reigniting hope around a car that has been anticipated for nearly a decade.

"These trademark filings represent a far more solid signal than a simple enthusiastic tweet" — Intellectual property specialists

Logos finally reveal a concrete strategy

These two filings reveal far more than simple legal protection. The first presents a stylized "Roadster" wordmark, featuring angular and futuristic typography reminiscent of the Cybertruck and Cybercab universe. The second unveils a minimalist graphic pattern: three curved lines that sketch the silhouette of the electric coupe.

Specialist attorney Josh Gerben puts it simply: Tesla is securing its territory before any public unveiling. These filings are classified as IC012, the category for electric vehicles. More importantly, they are registered on an "intent-to-use" basis, meaning Tesla affirms its intention to actually use these marks on a commercial product.

A date that's no coincidence

April 1, 2026 as the unveiling date? Elon Musk himself joked that this deadline gave him "some wiggle room." After eight years of waiting and successive delays, the April Fools' Day reference raises eyebrows.

The timeline remains fuzzy but coherent. During the November 2025 shareholder meeting, Musk relaunched the subject by promising a production version unveiling on April 1, 2026, followed by production within 12 to 18 months. In other words, first deliveries wouldn't start until between 2027 and 2028.

Performance specs that defy logic

The announced figures remain mind-boggling. The 2026 Tesla Roadster retains its science-fiction specifications: 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, or even under one second with the famous "thruster pack" inspired by SpaceX. The target top speed would exceed 250 mph (over 402 km/h), while the 200 kWh battery would promise a range close to 1,000 km.

Tesla has also filed a patent describing an active aerodynamic system capable of generating enormous downforce. Torque could reach up to 10,000 Nm according to some of Musk's public statements. Cold air thrusters would even allow the car to briefly "hover."

What's the starting price?

Entry price remains fixed around $200,000 for the standard version, or approximately €184,000. The Founder's Series climbs to $250,000 (€230,000) for the first 1,000 units. These prices haven't changed since 2017, despite inflation and announced technological upgrades.

Reservation holders losing patience

Some customers have been waiting since 2017 with a $50,000 deposit tied up at Tesla. OpenAI founder Sam Altman and YouTuber Marques Brownlee have both cancelled their reservations after years of waiting. Other reservation holders describe these deposits as interest-free "loans" left with Tesla for eight years.

These new trademark filings arrive as Tesla focuses on other projects deemed more strategically important: the Cybercab robotaxi, the humanoid Optimus robot, and expansion of the Supercharger network. The Roadster continues to immobilize real sums from increasingly impatient customers.

Competition: the landscape has changed in ten years

Since 2017, the electric supercar market has expanded. The Rimac Nevera boasts comparable performance with its 1,914 horsepower, though its €2 million price tag places it in another category. Lotus is preparing its Evija, while Ferrari and Lamborghini are also entering the electric supercar arena. The Roadster's perpetual delays have allowed competitors to catch up and even overtake it in development timelines.