Tesla is taking reservations for its next-generation Roadster, but it has not announced final prices. The reservation payments listed are $50,000 for the Performance version and $250,000 for the Thrust version, and the Rocket version is invite only with no price listed. Executives said production would begin in 2028.
What the money looks like
No vehicle price was given at the event. When Tesla first showed this Roadster in 2017, it listed the base car at $200,000. Some accounts describe a single $50,000 deposit rather than a payment for each version. Because final prices are not out, the amounts above are reservation payments, not what a buyer will finally pay.
When it would arrive
Executives pointed to 2028. Another account puts the start of manufacturing 12 to 18 months after the demo, at Giga Texas, which would make the window 2027 or 2028. Musk also said he is “not sure it moves the needle massively” for Tesla’s revenue.
Why the date is hard to trust
In 2017 Tesla promised deliveries in 2020. This year’s unveil was first set for October 1 and was called off on September 28 because of weather, then held on October 15. For the 2017 promises side by side with today’s numbers, see Tesla Roadster: 2017 Promises Compared With the 2026 Numbers.
Our take: a reservation is not a price and not a delivery slot. Before putting money down, a buyer should ask for the refund terms, the final price and a written production date. Tesla reports third-quarter results on October 21, which we covered in Tesla Sets Its Q3 Earnings Report for October 21.
