Tesla has told customers it "cannot guarantee when—or if—" its new Roadster will be delivered, according to the reservation agreement on the company's website. The document, noticed by Inside EVs, asks buyers for up to $250,000 up front, the same deposit Tesla collected for the original Roadster, which never reached production.
The agreement states that Roadster "is still under development" and that reservation holders receive only an "approximate" place in line once the car enters production, not a confirmed build slot. Pricing is also provisional. Tesla says it is still deciding on options, features and hardware, and full pricing will be shared when customers are invited to configure their cars.
The company currently estimates production will begin in 2028, but nearly all of its new products have been delayed, and the first Roadster was never built. Tesla's second unveiling of the car came nearly a decade after the first, with CEO Elon Musk promising performance claims including zero to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds and built-in rocket thrusters.
Some terms are more favorable to buyers. Unlike the Cybertruck Foundation Series and Model S Signature Edition launches, the new reservations carry no no-resale clause, so holders could sell their place or car. Reservations are also fully refundable, an option buyers may want to weigh given the company's record with the previous Roadster.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing