Tesla Sets 1 October for Next-Generation Roadster Reveal
Tesla says it will reveal the next-generation Roadster on 1 October, the first firm date since it showed the car as a concept in 2017 and promised production for 2020. European reservations cost EUR 43,000 paid within ten days, but nobody anywhere has taken delivery.
The Roadster prototype was shown in November 2017. Credit: Smnt / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The teaser reveals what look like taillamps and four circular shapes on the roof, which may be the SpaceX cold gas thrusters Tesla has discussed for years. The car first appeared as a concept in 2017, with production promised for 2020.
As reported by InsideEVs, this is the first firm date Tesla has given for the vehicle. However, there have been significant delays since its initial unveiling. TNW wrote about these delays in 2021, when the target date was moved to 2022.
The Information recently suggested there will be two versions: a limited "flying" Roadster and a road-legal car. Tesla has not confirmed either of these reports. The flying version would reportedly be demonstrated remotely due to the noise and force of the thrusters.
Financial obligations are high, with a European reservation costing EUR 43,000, with 4,000 paid on card and the remaining 39,000 via wire within ten days. Similar payment structures exist for the American and Founders Series versions.
Despite the investment, nobody has taken delivery of a Roadster to date. Marques Brownlee and Sam Altman have both requested their deposits back, facing complex cancellation processes.
The timing is awkward as Tesla’s European registrations fell 17% in January while the region’s battery electric market grew 14%. EU consumer law provides a route for buyers to terminate contracts and reclaim payments if a trader fails to deliver, but whether a reservation counts as a sales contract has not been tested.
Lars Moravy, Tesla’s engineering chief, has described the Roadster as the “last, best driver’s car” and the company’s swan song. It arrives at a time when European rivals are gaining ground.