After more delays than we’re willing to count, Tesla promised that its new Roadster will finally break cover on October 1. The news broke earlier this month, along with confirmation that Tesla has started sending invitations to current reservation holders. Anyone else wanting to reserve a Tesla Roadster can now do so on the manufacturer’s website, as reservations have reopened. That’s where the good news ends, though. Reserving the long-awaited performance EV comes at a steep price, and even then, it’s not known exactly when the car will go into production.
Related: Tesla Roadster Is Delayed Again, But Do We Even Care Anymore?
Tesla Roadster Reservation Costs
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To reserve a second-generation Tesla Roadster, customers will have to pay an immediate fee of $5,000, which is fully refundable. After that, another $45,000 is due within 10 days via wire transfer. Only this will finalize the reservation. Tesla originally offered the same $50K reservation fee closer to the car’s original announcement, but years later, those buyers are still waiting.
The total price of the Roadster is expected to be $200,000, which will make it the automaker’s most expensive model by far. Currently, the priciest Tesla on sale is the Cyberbeast, which starts at $99,990, or around half the expected cost of the Roadster.
Many Roadster Questions Remain
Many of Tesla’s claimed specifications for the new Roadster are still as eye-widening now as they were years ago. A top speed of over 250 mph and 620-mile range would be staggering for a performance EV if proven, as will the 0-60 mph time of under two seconds. That range would be made possible by a large battery with a capacity of 200 kWh. Elon Musk himself has also hinted at seemingly preposterous technologies like cold gas thrusters from SpaceX that could allow the car to hover or even fly.
Hopefully, we’ll have a clearer picture of the Roadster on October 1, when it’s officially revealed. The worry is that the many delays will have taken the steam out of the project. We saw this play out with the Cybertruck, which was previewed for years before it eventually went on sale, and that dramatic EV turned out to be less popular than expected.
What the new reservation fee does do is free up working capital as Tesla works towards finally launching the performance EV. But, with production only expected to start in 2027 or 2028, it could be a long time before customers get the chance to park a Roadster in the garage.
Related: Is the second-generation Tesla Roadster overoptimistic?
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