Tesla Roadster 2 event delayed by bad weather
▼ Summary
– Tesla has rescheduled the reveal of its second-generation Roadster from October 1 to October 15 due to forecasted severe weather in Waco, Texas.
– The outdoor event is necessary to demonstrate the integration of SpaceX cold gas thrusters intended to enable limited flight capabilities for the vehicle.
– This announcement marks another delay for a project first conceptualized in 2017, with previous postponements including plans for an April Fools’ Day reveal.
– Despite collecting significant deposits and reservations since its initial unveiling, the production timeline remains uncertain and expected to take over a year after the final reveal.
– Critics and industry figures like Sam Altman have expressed frustration over the prolonged waiting period, highlighting the gap between promises and delivery.
Tesla has once again postponed the unveiling of its second-generation Roadster, citing a forecast for severe weather as the primary cause. The manufacturer announced that the event, originally scheduled for October 1 in Waco, Texas, will now take place on October 15.
“We’ve been tracking the weather closely with local meteorologists, but given the severe conditions predicted & because this event can only be held outdoors, we’ve made the difficult decision to reschedule,” the company wrote in a post on X.
The requirement for an outdoor venue is likely tied to Tesla’s ambitious plans to integrate cold gas thrusters developed by SpaceX. These propulsion systems are intended to provide limited flight capabilities for the vehicle, a feature that necessitates open space for testing and demonstration during the reveal.
This latest postponement adds to a long history of delays for the project. Elon Musk had previously pushed the launch date back by months, at one point considering an April Fools’ Day debut earlier this year. During Tesla’s annual meeting in 2025, where he received a $1 trillion pay package, Musk remarked that holding the event on April Fools’ would provide “some deniability” if it were delayed again.
“Like, I could say I was just kidding,” he said at the time.
Tesla first introduced the concept of the next-generation Roadster in 2017 alongside the electric Semi truck. This new model was positioned as the company’s first supercar designed entirely from scratch, distinct from the original Roadster which was heavily based on the Lotus Elise. At that initial unveiling, Tesla promised the vehicle would arrive within a few years and began accepting $50,000 deposits for a car with an estimated base price of $200,000. Additionally, 1,000 customers paid $250,000 to reserve a spot in the exclusive “Founders Series.”
The project remained dormant for several years until Musk reportedly directed his engineering team to redesign the vehicle and commit to the integration of SpaceX thrusters. Despite the allure of a flying car, critics have remained skeptical. Last year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X that “7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait” for his own Roadster, although Musk disputed the claim by stating Altman had received a refund.
Even with the new date set, the production timeline remains uncertain. Musk has indicated that it may take a year or more after the official reveal before the new Roadster enters mass production.
(Source: TechCrunch)
