The Tesla Roadster 2.0 could be Tesla's next vehicle to hit production
Tesla
Tesla's Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen, has designed the company's entire fleet of vehicles, but the Model S, 3, X, Y, Cybertruck and Semi are not his favorites. "My favorite one is the one that is coming.
I can't talk about (it)," von Holzhausen told CNBC. He then quickly pivoted the conversation away from that topic. Nevertheless, several rumored vehicles will be the next to carry the "T" logo. So, which one is the creative mind of Tesla referring to in his evasive answer?
Franz von Holzhausen Interview
Let's start with the suspects. A cheaper, smaller and less expensive electric vehicle has been predicted for years. More recently, there have been ideas about a van. And then there is the second generation of the highly anticipated Roadster. While von Holzhausen didn't talk about the next one, he did give some clues later in the interview. "My all-time favorite car is a '62 250 GTO (Ferrari). I mean, it is quintessential. It's an insane car. I'm also a big fan of this kind of wedge era. The early (Lamborghini) Countachs, the whole kind of flat, low sports car. Those were always the posters on my wall."
The Designer Loves Sports Cars
When a 54-year-old man reminisces about the cars featured in posters plastered on his wall when he was a kid, he is not excited about a van or a compact vehicle — no, he is excited about a sports car. The second-generation Roadster was unveiled in 2017 simultaneously with the Semi. But there hasn't been much mention of the sports car since. The company is just now delivering Semis, and Cybertrucks are expected in 2023, but the Roadster doesn't have an ETA. Or does it? The chief designer says, "… the one that is coming." So, we can only assume that the Roadster is next to hit the production line.
Tesla Roadster 2.0
A Designer Who has Changed the Industry
One of the first employees of Tesla back in 2008, von Holzhausen, recalls the early days and how things have changed. "There is a moment that I thought when I first joined Tesla that it would be great to see multiple Teslas in one drive experience around town. And now, it's hard to go anywhere without seeing a bunch of Teslas. So, it's great to see the impact that Tesla has had in people's lives but also how it's changed the industry. It really pushed this idea that an EV can be better than an internal combustion vehicle."
He also gave some insight into designing vehicles that have and continue to change the auto industry, "Tesla isn't beholden to what has been done in the past. We are always trying to push the boundaries and deliver on a promise of something fun, something enjoyable and something you would love to own and tell your friends about."
It looks like The Roadster could be the next fun, enjoyable vehicle to tell everyone about.
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Tesla has officially filed construction permits for its first Semi Megacharger site located near the 405 and 110 freeway corridors in California. This location is just outside Carson, CA, near the Port of Long Beach—one of the busiest ports in the U.S.
The site, located at 19300 S Hamilton Avenue, will primarily feature Megachargers designed to support Tesla’s electric truck fleet. Additionally, Tesla plans to include a small lounge facility with vending machines, restrooms, and other amenities for drivers.
Semi-Public
This site is considered “public” because it’s the first Megacharger location built on publicly accessible land, conveniently situated off a major highway. Previous Megacharger sites have been installed at private corporate facilities, making them inaccessible to the general public.
Despite being in a public location, Tesla plans to keep these Megacharger units exclusive to the Tesla Semi, unlike Superchargers, which are gradually opening to other EV manufacturers. While the Megacharger standard—MCS—is an open standard like NACS, Tesla’s Megachargers will remain off-limits to other trucks.
Megacharger
The Megacharger features a large, square-shaped connector, a sharp contrast to the NACS design. This is due to the unique operating specifications of the MCS connector, which supports charging between 750kW and 1,000kW. This incredible power could potentially add up to 400 miles (of the Semi’s 500-mile range) in just 30 minutes of charging.
With such rapid charging capabilities, the Tesla Semi’s downtime will be drastically reduced, allowing for more efficient operations and less time spent charging.
With volume production expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, the Tesla Semi is poised to become one of the company’s biggest products. We’re excited to see more Semis on the road—and hopefully, many more Megacharger sites in the near future.
The Cybertruck has finally received an official crash safety rating—and to the surprise of many critics, it’s outstanding. Tesla has announced that the Cybertruck earned a 5-star Overall Crash Safety Rating from the NHTSA.
Even more remarkable, the Cybertruck holds the lowest overall probability of injury and the lowest rollover risk of any pickup truck ever tested by the agency. Skeptics have long questioned its safety, arguing that its rigid design lacks crumple zones and could endanger occupants. But these results prove otherwise. Let’s break it down!
The Test
Sawyer Merritt
The 2024 and 2025 Tesla Cybertruck—both the AWD and Cyberbeast variants—were tested under the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) standards, which evaluate vehicle crashworthiness and restraint systems through various types of impacts.
Tesla has long prioritized safety, not only through advancements in active safety with FSD but also by designing vehicles with robust structural protection. The Cybertruck incorporates the Cybercell structural battery and internal crash cans to improve crash performance.
Its front and rear Gigacastings are engineered to channel impact forces into internal structures that collapse, functioning similarly to crumple zones in traditional vehicles. This design directs energy away from occupants and critical components. First, the internal crash cans absorb the force, and if needed, the Gigacasting collapses—both of which are replaceable, making the Cybertruck more repairable when compared to other modern vehicles.
Euro NCAP
Sawyer Merritt
While the Cybertruck has now earned a North American NCAP rating, it has yet to receive a Euro NCAP rating. Tesla has not submitted the Cybertruck for testing in Europe, as its sharp-edged stainless steel panels do not currently meet European regulations.
Tesla does plan to bring the Cybertruck to Europe eventually, but doing so will likely require significant exterior modifications to soften its edges and comply with safety standards. Once those changes are made, the Cybertruck should have no trouble acing the Euro NCAP tests.
After such a long wait, it’s great to finally see the Cybertruck’s crash test results—and with a 5-star rating, Tesla deserves credit for its impressive engineering. Safety has always been a cornerstone of Tesla’s design philosophy, and the Cybertruck continues that tradition as one of the safest vehicles on the road.
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