Tesla Reopens Roadster Reservations With $50,000 Deposit Ahead of October Reveal
Tesla has reopened Roadster reservations with a $50,000 deposit before an October reveal in Waco, Texas, though the car has not been shown and earlier depositors are still waiting.
Buyers must make a $5,000 'fully refundable' instant payment by credit or debit card, then complete a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days to reserve a build slot, according to TechRadar. Tesla has not disclosed the final price of the production Roadster. The company previously said customers would have to pay a further $250,000 for a 'Founders Series' vehicle, which was initially claimed to have been promised for 2020.
Details about the upcoming Roadster remain uncertain. TechRadar reported that some reports suggest the high-performance EV could use cold-gas thrusters developed by SpaceX to produce acceleration levels not previously seen, while others have said the car has received a 'Cyber' redesign since the 2017 car was first unveiled. Tesla has not confirmed those claims.
When the Roadster was first unveiled in 2017, Tesla promised more than 600 miles of electric range, a 0-60 mph time under two seconds and a top speed above 250 mph. Nine years later, customers who placed deposits for that car have not received a new vehicle, and some have been waiting since 2017 for news of their cars, TechRadar reported.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the October demonstration will be a 'banger' and that the company needed to invite an audience to 'vouch for the fact that this is not AI.' TechRadar reported that depositors are likely hoping a real vehicle arrives on stage. The final cost and specifications remain unclear.
TechRadar wrote that Tesla has not launched an all-new model since the Cybertruck, which it described as not the success story the company had hoped. Sales of that model have been in steep decline since its initial reveal in 2023, according to TechRadar. The Cybertruck program also showed that Tesla's claims should be treated with caution, TechRadar said, because its off-road abilities, electric range, build quality and even price have been questioned during its lifetime.
October 1 will hopefully reveal all, TechRadar reported, but it added that those queuing to place a deposit should proceed with caution.