Tesla Reopens Roadster Reservations With $50,000 Deposit
The electric vehicle maker is again taking reservations for its long-delayed next-generation sports car, ahead of a redesigned model's unveiling.
Tesla has reopened reservations for its next-generation Roadster, requiring a $50,000 deposit from interested buyers weeks before the company plans to reveal a redesigned version of the vehicle. The reservation process involves an initial fully refundable $5,000 payment via credit card, followed by a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days to secure a spot.
The renewed push for reservations comes nearly nine years after CEO Elon Musk first showcased a prototype of the next-generation Roadster in 2017. Following multiple delays, Tesla is scheduled to unveil the updated vehicle on October 1 at an event in Texas. Musk has described the unveiling event as a "banger" and suggested that an in-person audience will be necessary to verify the car's capabilities are not artificially generated.
Recent reports indicate the event may feature a demonstration of a limited-edition Roadster equipped with cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX. Tesla's promotional imagery for the event appears to support this possibility, depicting the vehicle against a backdrop themed around a launch.
The Roadster program has reportedly undergone significant evolution since its initial design stages. According to The Information, Tesla moved away from an approach based on Model S Plaid components in favor of developing an entirely new carbon-fiber hypercar.
Initially, the next-generation Roadster was unveiled in November 2017 with an advertised base price of $200,000. At the time, Tesla projected deliveries to commence in 2020, promising acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and a range of 620 miles. A "Founders Series" version was also available for a $250,000 payment. However, the vehicle did not enter production as planned and has experienced repeated delays since then.
It remains unclear what the final price for the redesigned Roadster will be, or how Tesla will address customers who placed reservations for the car years ago. Tesla has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding reservation priority or updated vehicle specifications.