Roadster Reservations Reopened
Tesla Reopens Next-Generation Roadster Reservations Ahead of Long-Awaited October Reveal
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Key Points
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Tesla has also reopened the reservation queue in China, where the deposit is RMB 332,000, or roughly US$52,120, according to reporting cited by Tesla North.
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Tesla’s terms state that a reservation is not final until the required wire-transfer payment is received, despite the initial credit-card charge being refundable.
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Existing reservation holders were invited to the October 1 reveal and were required to RSVP by September 16, indicating Tesla began organizing attendance before reopening the reservation queue.
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Tesla has previously indicated that the Roadster will be built in Texas, although it has not announced when production will begin.
Tesla has reopened reservations for its next-generation Roadster nearly nine years after first accepting deposits, ahead of an October 1, 2026 reveal in Waco, Texas. CarBuzz reports the electric sports car is expected to reach customers with a 250-mph top speed. U.S. customers must pay $5,000 upfront by credit card and wire an additional $45,000 within 10 days to secure their spot.
Tesla has not disclosed final pricing, production timing, or confirmed specifications, warning that options, hardware, and packaging are still being finalized. Fox Business notes the deposit requirement marks a significant financial commitment before the company even reveals design details. The original 2017 concept promised prices starting at $200,000, but has yet to enter production after years of delays.
Deposits Stack Up Across Global Markets
The deposit structure varies by region. Canadian customers face a total deposit of about C$64,000, while Teslarati reports customers in China must pay RMB 332,000, roughly $52,120 USD. All deposits are refundable until a purchase agreement is signed, giving buyers time to reconsider as Tesla finalizes details.
Tesla's terms state a reservation is not final until the required wire-transfer payment clears. The initial credit-card charge alone represents a major commitment — $50,000 total in the U.S. — before customers see the finished design or know when they'll actually receive their vehicle.
Nine-Year Wait Tests Buyer Patience and Trust
Tesla first announced the next-generation Roadster in 2017 with bold claims: a base price of $200,000, a Founder's Series at $250,000, and delivery starting in 2020. None of those timelines materialized. The vehicle never entered production, and customers have waited nearly a decade for any concrete updates on design or specs.
The new teaser image suggests a sharper, more angular design than the original prototype. Tesla says the October 1 event will clarify the vehicle's actual design, specifications, and production timeline. But after years of delay, the company is asking new buyers to commit $50,000 based on promises it has repeatedly failed to keep.
Texas Production Plans Remain Vague
Tesla has indicated the Roadster will be built in Texas, likely at the company's Gigafactory near Austin. However, it has not announced when production will actually begin. The October reveal may finally provide a target date for first deliveries, easing concerns about another indefinite delay.
Existing reservation holders were invited to attend the October 1 reveal and had to RSVP by September 16. This suggests Tesla began organizing the event before reopening the reservation queue to the general public, indicating the company is serious about moving forward — though a clear production timeline remains absent.
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