Tesla Roadster launch delayed once again: New date is October 15
Tesla has postponed the event scheduled for October 1 for the second-generation Roadster, which it announced in 2017, by two weeks due to weather conditions.
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The launch event planned for Tesla’s long-awaited second-generation Roadster model has been delayed once again. The company announced that the event, which was expected to take place on October 1, has been moved to October 15 due to severe weather conditions.
It was stated that the decision to postpone was influenced by the fact that the event could only be held outdoors. This situation has strengthened expectations that the launch might feature a performance-focused demonstration beyond a classic vehicle showcase.
The new Roadster was first shown to the public in November 2017. At the time, Tesla announced that it aimed to begin deliveries of the vehicle in 2020, but the project has undergone numerous schedule changes in the years since.
Elon Musk announced in a statement in September that the new Roadster would be unveiled on October 1, and Tesla confirmed this date on its social media account. With this latest delay, another date has been added to the model's nearly nine-year wait.
The Roadster's long development process is also significant for customers who reserved the vehicle years ago. When the model was first introduced, the estimated starting price was announced as approximately 200 thousand dollars, while a 50 thousand dollar down payment was collected for standard reservations.
Tesla also requested a 250 thousand dollar payment for the Founders Series version, which was planned to be limited to 1,000 units. For this reason, the new Roadster has become not just a delayed automotive project, but a program closely watched by customers who have paid to wait for the vehicle.
One of the most notable expectations regarding the model is the integration of SpaceX technology into the vehicle. Musk had previously mentioned a special SpaceX package for the Roadster consisting of cold gas thrusters, stating that this system is intended to improve acceleration, braking, and cornering performance.
Musk had also claimed that the system in question could allow the vehicle to hover off the ground for a very short time. For this reason, the event on October 15 is seen as critical not only for the Roadster's technical capacity but also for Tesla's statements regarding its production and delivery schedule.
The launch itself will not single-handedly answer the question of when the vehicle will reach customers. All eyes are now on the details Tesla will share regarding the start of mass production, the final sales price, and the delivery plan.