Tesla Files Trademarks for Next-Gen Roadster; Reveal Soon
February 8, 2026
By Karan Singh
Tesla's Next-Gen Roadster Unveiling: A Highly Anticipated Event
Tesla has filed two new trademark applications for its long-awaited next-generation Roadster, sparking excitement among enthusiasts. The filings, submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office, hint at an imminent official debut for the highly anticipated supercar.
Trademark Filings: A Strategic Move
The applications, dated February 3, 2026, include a stylized wordmark for the name 'ROADSTER' and a distinct design logo, reminiscent of the Cybertruck's unique two-part logo. These filings are a strategic move by Tesla to secure branding rights ahead of the reveal.
Elon Musk's Comments and Target Date
Elon Musk's comments at the Q3 and Q4 2025 Earnings Calls confirmed that Tesla aims to unveil the new Roadster on April 1st, 2026. This target date has been a focal point for enthusiasts, who are eagerly awaiting the supercar's arrival.
ROADSTER Wordmark: A Stylish Approach
The first trademark application (SN 99630872) focuses on the word 'ROADSTER' in a stylized font. This mark is classified under IC012, indicating its association with electric land vehicles and their components. The stylized format suggests that this typography will be prominently displayed on the rear or door sills of the production Roadster.
Flowing Triangle Design: A Unique Logo
The second application (SN 99630860) introduces a more intriguing design. It describes a 'triangle design consisting of three flowing, curved lines,' creating a visually minimalist logo. Similar to the Cybertruck's logo, this design captures the Roadster's side profile in three strokes, representing the roof and front and rear quarter panels. Again, it falls under IC012, emphasizing its connection to electric land vehicles.
A Serious Push for Branding Rights
Signed by Keaton Parekh, Tesla's Associate General Counsel and Head of IP, these filings indicate a serious effort to secure branding rights before the official launch. This move is particularly notable after Tesla discontinued the Model S and Model X, leaving many to question the Roadster's fate.
The Roadster's Revival: A Timeline
Tesla's announcement of a new Roadster in 2017, followed by a decade of delays, has kept enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. With the new trademarks and an upcoming product demo, it seems that Elon Musk's 'hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars' is finally materializing. The timing is significant, as it aligns with the planned launch in April, following the filing of these trademarks.
Tesla's Software-Driven Evolution
February 7, 2026
By Not a Tesla App Staff
Tesla's Software Revolution: Transforming the Driving Experience
For decades, the idea of a car improving post-purchase was unheard of. Tesla, however, has revolutionized this concept with its software-first approach. By treating the infotainment system like a smartphone, Tesla has introduced numerous game-changing features for free over the years.
Full Self-Driving (Supervised): The Crown Jewel
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) has always been the pinnacle of Tesla's software. Through years of data collection, Tesla has built a driver-assistance suite that can navigate city streets, handle traffic, wait for pedestrians, and park itself. Early beta users were among the first to experience this remarkable evolution.
Navigate on Autopilot: A Major Leap
One of the first significant steps toward FSD was Navigate on Autopilot, which allowed the car to guide itself from an on-ramp to an off-ramp, including automatic lane changes and handling highway interchanges. This feature transformed long-distance travel, making it more relaxed and efficient.
AutoPark: Convenience at its Finest
Tesla released AutoPark through a software update in 2019, and it has since been enhanced for faster and more accurate performance. With FSD, the vehicle can even seek out a parking spot and park itself, offering unparalleled convenience.
Boombox and Custom Lock Sounds: Personalization
In 2023, Tesla introduced the ability to replace the standard 'honk' with custom sounds when locking the car. Owners can choose from pre-loaded sounds or upload their own via a USB drive, adding a personal touch to their driving experience.
Tesla Theater: Transforming the Car into a Lounge
Tesla Theater, introduced in 2019, brought apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ to the center screen, allowing owners to enjoy their favorite shows or videos while waiting at a Supercharger. With a simple workaround, any web streaming service can be accessed on the rear screen.
Video Games: Adding Fun to the Drive
Tesla Arcade, initially featuring classic Atari titles, has evolved into a modern video game hub. Recent additions include the ISS Docking Simulator, which uses controls based on actual NASA interfaces, and Beach Buggy Racing, offering competitive gameplay on leaderboards at local Superchargers.
High Fidelity Park Assist: Enhanced Parking
High-Fidelity Park Assist renders the world around you onto the screen, providing a 3D representation of the car's surroundings. This feature warns you when you're getting too close to nearby objects and offers a more accurate and immersive parking experience.
Car Wash Mode: Convenience in the Rain
Car Wash Mode automatically disables essential features during a car wash, such as the auto wipers, while also making it easier to put the vehicle in neutral. It even warns you if any windows, doors, or the trunk are left open, ensuring a hassle-free car wash experience.
Emergency Braking and Collision Avoidance: Safety First
Tesla often adds safety features before regulators request them. Automatic Emergency Braking has been improved to respond to perpendicular dangers, such as vehicles crossing intersections or reversing, making it significantly safer for older cars.
Lane Departure Avoidance: Preventing Accidents
Emergency Lane Departure Avoidance used to issue warnings for lane drift, but an update now allows the vehicle to apply corrective steering and return to its lane. This feature helps prevent accidents caused by driver distraction and fatigue.
Additional Music Services: Expanding Entertainment Options
Tesla has expanded its Music Services beyond the original LiveOne option, offering a variety of music streaming services, including Spotify, SiriusXM, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music.
Apple Podcasts Integration: Seamless Audio Experience
Tesla finally brought native Apple Podcasts integration to its infotainment system in 2023, allowing for seamless syncing of favorite shows and playback progress between the phone and the car.
Grok Voice Assistant: AI Integration
In a significant push toward artificial intelligence, Tesla integrated xAI's Grok chatbot into its operating system. Grok can now set and edit navigation destinations and act as a personal guide, offering natural language capabilities for finding specific types of stops along your route.
Dashcam and Sentry Mode: Enhanced Safety
Sentry Mode uses the car's external cameras to monitor surroundings while parked, while the Dashcam feature records footage while driving, now including telemetry like speed and steering angle. Tesla has continuously improved these features, adding vehicle data to the UI, app support, and more.
Tesla Light Show: Adding Flair
For those seeking a touch of flair, the Tesla Light Show allows the car to dance to music by flashing its lights and moving its mirrors. Tesla offers new songs with updates and even lets users create custom light shows.
Auto High Beams: Enhanced Visibility
Auto High Beams automatically switch between high and low beams based on detected light and traffic, preventing the driver from manually adjusting them.
Adaptive Headlights: Reducing Glare
Adaptive Headlights take lighting a step further by keeping high beams on longer and selectively dimming areas with other vehicles. These headlights use an array of pixels to reduce glare for oncoming drivers, ensuring an almost entirely lit-up road.
Auto Wipers: Software-Driven Refinement
Even basic hardware like wipers has received software-driven upgrades from Tesla. Auto Wipers use neural networks to detect rain more accurately, eliminating the need for an additional sensor.
Dog Mode, Camp Mode, and Keep Climate: Convenience Features
These climate features allow owners to maintain cabin temperature while parked. Dog Mode keeps pets safe with an on-screen message for passersby, while Camp Mode keeps the car powered for overnight stays. 'Keep Climate' maintains the temperature while running quick errands.
Parental Controls: Ensuring Safety
Parental Controls enable parents to set a maximum speed limit, reduce acceleration, and prevent safety-critical features from being turned off, ensuring the safety of teens while driving.
Valet Mode: Enhanced Security
Valet Mode keeps the car safer when using valet services by preventing hard acceleration and locking the glove box. It also safeguards personal information by disabling certain features and preventing the driver from accessing home, work, or recent addresses.
PIN to Drive and PIN to Open Glovebox: Added Security
PIN to Drive adds an extra layer of security by requiring a four-digit code before shifting out of park. Tesla also allows locking the glove box with a PIN code, ensuring the safety of any information stored inside.
Weather, Radar Overlay, and Air Quality Index: Informed Driving
Tesla's 2024 software update brought Weather and Air Quality details directly to the status bar, providing current local conditions and warnings for poor air quality. It also includes a weather radar, allowing drivers to track storms during road trips.
Keeps Getting Better: The Tesla Experience
For those who've owned their vehicles since the early Model 3 days, the continuous software updates have been remarkable. Tesla has proven that a car can evolve, offering new features and enhancements over time.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Tesla
As Tesla moves closer to full autonomy, these free updates redefine what it means to own a vehicle. The company's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement ensures that drivers will always have access to the latest features and enhancements.
CarPlay Support: Still in the Works
February 6, 2026
By Karan Singh
Tesla's CarPlay Development: A Work in Progress
According to a recent report, Tesla is still actively developing Apple CarPlay support, potentially ending a long standoff with direct phone OS integrations into Tesla's UI.
Mark Gurman's Update
Mark Gurman's newsletter revealed that Tesla is working on CarPlay support, a feature he had previously reported in November. However, when users didn't see it in the holiday update, they questioned its accuracy. The reality may be different, as Tesla is still actively working on the feature.
Potential Release Timeline
It's possible that CarPlay will be released in the upcoming spring update or later this year. Gurman's update was brief but indicated that more information will be shared soon.
Tesla's Recent Feature Additions
Tesla has been adding significant new features, particularly in China, including a custom Automations feature, the 'Hey, Tesla' wake word for its assistant, and Dashcam improvements. CarPlay could be the next addition.
CarPlay's Implementation
For those expecting Apple to take over the entire primary display, Tesla is reportedly pursuing a more 'windowed' approach, allowing its OS to coexist with CarPlay rather than letting Apple dominate the screen. If released, CarPlay will likely be another windowed app like Spotify or the browser.
CarPlay's Value
Tesla's in-house software is a valuable non-hardware asset, serving as the gateway to services like FSD and Premium Connectivity, which generate recurring monthly revenue. Integrating CarPlay within a dedicated app window, Tesla sandboxes the app, ensuring that essential features remain within Tesla's native UI.
Standard vs. Ultra
Tesla is reportedly testing the standard wireless version of CarPlay rather than the newer CarPlay Ultra, which requires the car manufacturer to map vehicle sensor data into Apple's interface and gives up control. Tesla's approach aligns with the needs of many manufacturers.
Market Data and CarPlay's Importance
Recent studies show that roughly one-third of car buyers consider the absence of CarPlay as a deal-breaker. Tesla's decision to support CarPlay may be driven by market data, as it offers advantages, especially if Tesla doesn't support apps like Waze.
Destined for the Spring Update
Tesla has been saving major UI changes and feature updates for its Spring Update, and there's a good chance that CarPlay will be released this spring. As with many recent major software improvements, the feature may be limited to the newer, more capable AMD MCU.
