Tesla Delays Roadster 2 Reveal to October 15 Over Severe Weather
Tesla moves its Roadster 2 reveal in Waco from October 1 to October 15 as severe weather adds another setback to the long-delayed $200,000 electric supercar.
Summary
Tesla has moved the second-generation Roadster reveal in Waco, Texas, from October 1 to October 15 because severe weather is forecast and the event can only be held outdoors. That requirement may relate to Tesla’s work integrating SpaceX cold gas thrusters intended to make the car fly in some capacity. The latest postponement follows repeated delays, including Elon Musk’s proposed April Fools’ Day 2026 event. At Tesla’s 2025 annual meeting, where Musk received a $1 trillion pay package, he joked that the date would provide deniability if another delay occurred.
Tesla unveiled the Roadster concept alongside the Semi in 2017, promising a ground-up supercar unlike its early 2010s Lotus Elise-based original. Customers paid $50,000 deposits toward an estimated $200,000 base model, while some paid $250,000 to reserve one of 1,000 Founders Series cars. After years of stagnation, Musk reportedly ordered a redesign and committed to SpaceX thrusters. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said last year that 7.5 years was a long wait for his car, though Musk said Altman received a refund. Production remains unscheduled, with Musk expecting it to begin a year or more after the reveal.
Positives
- October 15 gives Tesla a replacement date for the weather-delayed Waco reveal.
- SpaceX cold gas thrusters are being integrated with the goal of making the Roadster fly in some capacity.
- $50,000 deposits and $250,000 Founders Series reservations demonstrated early customer interest.
- The redesigned Roadster is intended to be Tesla’s first ground-up supercar, unlike the Lotus Elise-based original.
Risks & concerns
- Severe weather forced Tesla to move the outdoor event from October 1 to October 15.
- Repeated delays have stretched from the Roadster’s 2017 unveiling through the planned 2026 reveal.
- Customers placed deposits as high as $250,000 while the project remained stagnant for years.
- Production could remain at least a year away after the Roadster is finally revealed.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly criticized his 7.5-year wait, although Elon Musk said he received a refund.