Tesla Still Says The New Roadster Is Coming Tonight – Jalopnik

Happy Thursday! It’s October 15, 2026, and that is The Morning Shift — your every day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from world wide, in a single place. This is the place you may discover an important tales which are shaping the best way Americans drive and get round.

In this morning’s version we’re wanting on the upcoming Tesla Roadster reveal, and Europe as a proving floor for Chinese automakers. We’ll additionally take a look at shifting Canadian car-buying preferences, and Penske altering possession. 

If you want a recap of the newest auto information despatched to your inbox every weekday, you’ll be able to join Jalopnik’s free Morning Shift publication right here.

Remember 9 years in the past, when Tesla revealed its second-generation Roadster as a type of “one more thing” add-on to a keynote concerning the Semi? Well, now it is taking place once more. The Roadster is being re-revealed, supposedly in manufacturing spec, at 9 p.m. Eastern tonight. From Reuters: 

Tesla is about to unveil its redesigned Roadster on Thursday, almost 9 years after it first confirmed a next-generation model of its electrical sports activities automobile.

Tesla revealed ​a prototype of the $200,000 automobile in 2017 and mentioned deliveries would start in ‌2020. The value has not been up to date however reservations are nonetheless $50,000 every.

Chief Executive Elon Musk has performed down the automobile’s significance to Tesla’s funds, describing it in 2023 as a “small potato situation” that might not “move the ​needle in a major way financially.”

Back in 2017, we nonetheless believed not less than among the issues that Musk mentioned. Now, that ship has lengthy since sailed. Still, I’ll be watching the presentation dwell, and writing it up for all of you stunning individuals. I’m working at 9 p.m. for this, so that you all higher click on. 

Chinese automakers are transferring into Europe, we have talked about this to loss of life. The carrot of European gross sales is interesting to all of them, however there is a stick too: The Chinese market is so crowded with automakers that it is seemingly these manufacturers will not survive with out a European foothold. From Reuters:

PARIS, Oct 15 (Reuters) – The document 20 Chinese manufacturers vying for consideration at this week’s Paris automobile present mirror a stark actuality: as a slowdown at residence pushes China’s overcrowded auto trade to consolidate, success in Europe may assist decide which carmakers survive.

With the US market ​largely closed to Chinese automakers, Europe is by far probably the most worthwhile market nonetheless open to them, but additionally one of many hardest to crack.

…

“If they drop exports in Europe, they die,” mentioned Francois Roudier, secretary common of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).

It’s a race for market share and model recognition, with the home market unlikely to overlook any rivals that may’t hack it abroad. Even Chinese automakers cannot survive on the Chinese market alone any extra, which is not a terrific signal for the import manufacturers which have tried the identical tactic like Buick, which survived the 2008 massacre purely on its enchantment in China. 

Europeans have lengthy been eschewing inner combustion for the cheaper working prices of electrical vehicles, and now Canada is following go well with. Canada is shopping for fewer and fewer massive vehicles, and increasingly EVs. From Automotive News: 

Electric automobiles put a cost into Canada’s new-vehicle market in the course of the third quarter, serving to stabilize total gross sales regardless of an ongoing U.S. commerce warfare and affordability issues.

EVs managed to seize almost seven per cent market share within the quarter. When plug-in hybrids are included, that jumps to 10 per cent, in line with JD Power Canada.

“The uptick in EVs was a little bit surprising,” mentioned Robert Karwel, director of OEM options for JD Power Canada.

Hey Rob, you are stunned? Gas costs are skyrocketing, inner combustion has firmly hitched its wagon to the horse of the worldwide proper wing and its more and more overt white supremacism, and also you’re stunned that individuals are shopping for electrical vehicles? Whatever JD Power is paying you, I’ll do your job for half. Maybe two thirds. 

Penske is without doubt one of the greatest seller networks within the United States, but it surely’s not truly solely owned by Roger himself — Penske Auto Group, the corporate that owns all these sellers, is owned by its shareholders. That’s all about to vary, although, as Penske Corp (a unique firm) is taking the Auto Group non-public with assist from Japanese buying and selling firm Mitsui & Co. From Bloomberg:

Penske Automotive Group Inc., one of many largest automobile dealership teams within the US, reached a cope with its two greatest shareholders to go non-public at a $16.3 billion enterprise worth.

Motown Acquisition Corp., an entity collectively owned by Penske Corp. and Mitsui & Co., will purchase the seller group for $212 a share, an 8.8% premium over the inventory’s prior closing value, in line with an announcement Thursday. The money deal, which is anticipated to shut within the first quarter of 2027, will not be topic to a financing situation.

Penske Corp., the intently held transportation-services firm based by Roger Penske — the previous race-car driver who additionally leads Penske Automotive — and Mitsui proposed the take-private deal to the seller group’s board in July. Penske Corp. and Mitsui collectively personal about 72% of Penske Automotive’s excellent widespread inventory, in line with knowledge compiled by Bloomberg.

So Penske Corp labored with Mitsui & Co to create an organization referred to as Motown Acquisition Corp, which can do nothing however buy Penske Auto Group with Penske Corp and Mitsui’s cash. Does that every one make sense? I hate having a level in enterprise. 

Sure, breaking the purpose document is spectacular and all, however does he enable for transit between the United States and Canada?

As with yesterday, and the day earlier than, costs stay stagnant. Welcome to your new baseline, not less than till one thing new occurs within the warfare on Iran to ship costs both spiraling or skyrocketing. My cash’s on the latter.