Performance First, Safety Second

If you're looking for the safest car on the road, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has some advice: don't buy the Roadster. In a Tuesday interview with entrepreneur Peter Diamandis, Musk was refreshingly blunt about the much-anticipated sports car's priorities. "It will be a cool demo," he said, adding that "safety is not the main goal."

Musk drew comparisons to Ferrari, the Italian automaker known for prioritizing performance over everything else. "If safety is your number one goal, don't buy the Roadster," he stated plainly. It's a notable departure from Tesla's usual safety-first messaging around vehicles like the Model S and Model X, which routinely tout their high safety ratings.

The Hovering Question

When Diamandis asked whether the Roadster could hover, Musk gave a cryptic response: "classified." That's not entirely out of left field. Tesla filed a patent last year detailing an active aerodynamic system that uses fans to direct airflow and generate downforce. The patent filing also mentioned the system could potentially make the car hover, though whether that makes it into production is anyone's guess.

Last of a Dying Breed

Hinting at the inevitable rise of autonomous vehicles, Musk described the Roadster as "the best of the last of the human-driven cars." It's a romantic notion, positioning the vehicle as a final hurrah for driving enthusiasts before self-driving technology takes over completely.

There are signs the Roadster might actually materialize soon. Tesla posted a job listing in October for a role working on Roadster production, suggesting the company is moving beyond vaporware status. Maybe.

Years of Delays and Frustrated Customers

The Roadster has been generating buzz and criticism in equal measure, largely because it's been perpetually "coming soon" for years. OpenAI founder Sam Altman publicly complained that Tesla failed to refund the $50,000 he paid to reserve one. Musk fired back, claiming Altman's refund was processed within 24 hours of the issue going public.

Popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) also canceled one of two Roadster reservations he made over eight years ago, each with a $50,000 deposit. When people are walking away from reservations they made nearly a decade ago, that tells you something about customer patience wearing thin.

Meanwhile, Deliveries Disappoint

While Musk talks up future products, Tesla's present is looking rougher. The company's fourth-quarter deliveries came in at 418,227 units, well below the 445,000 analysts were expecting and representing a 16% decline year-over-year. That's not the trajectory investors want to see from a growth company.

Price Action: TSLA declined 4.14% to $432.96 at market close, but gained 0.46% in after-hours trading.