In November 2017, Elon Musk announced the second-generation Tesla Roadster, promising it would be the fastest production car in the world, and began taking deposits from eager buyers. Over $250 million in reservations poured in for the Roadster, but nearly eight years later, as of April 2025, Tesla has yet to deliver a single unit, with no clear timeline for production. Meanwhile, a striking post on X by user Yan Chang showcases BYD’s YangWang U9, a spectacular electric supercar that accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.36 seconds, boasts a design by ex-Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger, and features unique capabilities like jumping and driving on three wheels, positioning it as a formidable rival in the EV performance market.

Tesla Roadster Deposits: A $250 Million Promise Unfulfilled

Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster on November 16, 2017, with Elon Musk heralding its 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed exceeding 250 mph (402 km/h), and a 620-mile (1,000 km) range. The company immediately opened reservations, requiring a $50,000 deposit for the base model, priced at $200,000, and a full $250,000 payment for the limited Founders Series, capped at 1,000 units. By 2018, Tesla had secured $250 million from the Founders Series alone, with 1,000 buyers paying the full amount upfront. Additional base model reservations likely pushed the total number of deposits higher, though exact figures beyond the Founders Series remain undisclosed.

The significant influx of deposits reflected immense enthusiasm for the Roadster, which Musk positioned as a “halo car” to showcase Tesla’s engineering prowess. However, the promise of the Roadster has remained unfulfilled, with the $250 million in Founders Series deposits—and potentially more from base model buyers—sitting in limbo as Tesla fails to deliver.

No Tesla Roadster in Sight: Delays with No End Date

As of April 2025, Tesla has not delivered a single Roadster, nearly eight years after taking deposits. Musk initially projected a 2020 delivery timeline, but this was delayed to 2022, then 2023, and later to 2024, with speculation of a further push to 2026 based on Tesla’s latest updates. No firm delivery date has been provided since 2023, leaving reservation holders in the dark. In a 2023 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, Musk explained, “The Roadster is a challenging project because it’s a halo car, not a volume product,” pointing to engineering hurdles and supply chain constraints, particularly with the car’s ambitious 200 kWh battery pack designed to achieve its 620-mile range.

The absence of a clear timeline has frustrated buyers who invested significant sums in 2017. While no lawsuits against Tesla specifically for the Roadster delays have been documented in public records as of early 2025, the prolonged wait has sparked discontent among reservation holders, some of whom may consider demanding refunds.

BYD U9: A Spectacular Electric Supercar Steals the Show

While Tesla’s Roadster remains a distant promise, BYD has seized the spotlight with its U9, an electric supercar that Yan Chang’s X post describes as a game-changer. The U9 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in just 2.36 seconds, a performance metric that rivals hypercars like the Rimac C_Two and Pininfarina Battista. Designed by Wolfgang Egger, a former Lamborghini designer behind models like the Murciélago, the U9 features sharp, angular lines and aggressive lighting, as seen in the X post’s image, giving it a futuristic and commanding presence.

The U9 also boasts unique capabilities, with the X post claiming it can “shimmy, slide, jump, drive on 3 wheels.” These features suggest advanced suspension and stability control systems, possibly involving hydraulic or electromagnetic setups similar to those in experimental vehicles like the Citroën DS. While such capabilities might captivate enthusiasts, their practical application on public roads remains uncertain, and the lack of official confirmation from BYD warrants skepticism about their reliability and safety.

Industry estimates place the U9’s price at around 1 million RMB in China, roughly $140,000 USD based on current exchange rates. This positions it as a more accessible option compared to hypercars costing over $2 million, making it a direct competitor to the Tesla Roadster’s $200,000 base price.

Market Dynamics: BYD’s Rise Challenges Tesla’s Dominance

BYD’s U9 highlights the growing influence of Chinese automakers in the global EV market. BYD has expanded aggressively, planning a U.S. market entry by late 2025, though it faces regulatory hurdles. The U9’s jumping feature, for instance, may encounter scrutiny under U.S. safety regulations like the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which emphasize stability and crashworthiness over novelty.

Tesla, meanwhile, grapples with its own regulatory challenges for the Roadster. The car’s promised SpaceX-derived thruster option, intended to boost acceleration, has not been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for road use, potentially contributing to further delays. The contrast between Tesla’s stalled Roadster and BYD’s ready-to-showcase U9 underscores a shifting competitive landscape in the EV performance segment.

EVXL’s Take: Tesla’s Roadster Faces a Formidable Rival

The $250 million in Tesla Roadster Founders Series deposits from 2017, collected with the promise of a groundbreaking supercar, now stands as a symbol of unmet expectations. With no delivery in sight and no clear timeline, Tesla risks alienating enthusiasts who have waited nearly eight years. The absence of the Roadster leaves a gap that competitors like BYD are eager to fill.

BYD’s U9, with its 2-second 0-60 mph sprint and striking design, positions itself as a spectacular alternative, ready to capture the attention of EV performance enthusiasts. However, EVXL advises caution regarding the U9’s more theatrical features, such as jumping and three-wheel driving, which may prioritize spectacle over practicality. For Tesla, the U9’s debut serves as a wake-up call: deliver the Roadster soon, or risk losing the supercar EV market to innovative rivals like BYD.

Photos courtesy of Tesla, BYD, Yan Chang.