Tesla has not announced a confirmed release date for the new Roadster

Tesla first showed the next-generation Roadster in November 2017 and said it would arrive in 2020. That did not happen. In 2021, Elon Musk said production would start in 2023. That also did not happen. As of now, Tesla has not published a firm delivery date, only that the car is "coming" and that early reservation holders will get it first.

The delay matters because thousands of people have paid $50,000 to reserve one, and that money sits with Tesla while you wait. If you are trying to decide whether to reserve now or wait for more concrete timing, you need to know what Tesla has actually said versus what people are guessing.

Key Takeaways

  • Tesla announced the Roadster in 2017 with a 2020 target date, then pushed it to 2023, and has not given a new date since.
  • A $50,000 reservation fee holds your place in line but does not may provide delivery in any specific year.
  • Tesla's track record on Roadster timing is poor — every previous target has been missed by at least two years.
  • You can reserve a Roadster on Tesla's website, but you should expect the wait to be longer than any date Tesla has mentioned.

What Tesla has actually said about timing

In the original 2017 announcement, Tesla said the Roadster would ship in 2020. In early 2021, Musk said the company would "probably" start production in 2023. In 2022, he said the same thing. In 2023 and into 2024, Tesla stopped giving specific dates and began saying only that the Roadster was "in development" and would arrive when it was ready.

The company has not released a new target date since then. When you visit Tesla's Roadster page, you will see a reservation button and a list of specs, but no delivery window. This is the safest thing Tesla can say, because every previous window has closed without delivery.

Why the delays keep happening

Tesla has been working on the Roadster alongside the Cybertruck, Semi, and other vehicles. The Cybertruck, which was also supposed to arrive years earlier than it did, finally began limited deliveries in late 2023 — six years after the original target. The Semi has faced similar delays. The Roadster is lower priority than these vehicles because fewer people have reserved it and it generates less revenue per unit.

Additionally, the Roadster is supposed to be a high-performance sports car with a 200+ mph top speed and a 1.9-second 0-60 time — specs that require engineering work Tesla has not finished. The longer the car sits in development, the more likely Tesla will add new features or redesign parts, which pushes the date back further.

How reservations work and what they mean

You can reserve a Roadster on Tesla's website by paying $50,000. This money is held by Tesla and does not go toward the final purchase price until you actually order the car. If you cancel your reservation, you can request a refund, though some reservation holders have reported delays in getting money back.

A reservation does not lock in a price or may provide delivery in any year. Tesla can change the final price, the specs, or the delivery timeline without your consent. Your only may provide is that you will be offered the car before people who reserve after you.

What to expect if you reserve today

If you put down a reservation now, you should assume the Roadster will not arrive for at least two to three years, possibly longer. Tesla's pattern is to announce a date, miss it, announce a new date, and miss that one too. The company has not broken this pattern with any vehicle announced before 2020.

You will receive occasional emails from Tesla about the Roadster's development, but these are usually vague and do not include new delivery estimates. You can check your reservation status on Tesla's website anytime, and you can cancel and request a refund if you change your mind.

Alternatives if you want a high-performance car sooner

If you want a sports car that is actually available now, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari all make electric or hybrid models with performance specs similar to what Tesla promises for the Roadster. These cars cost more upfront but you can buy and drive them today rather than wait years for delivery.

If you want a Tesla specifically, the Model S Plaid is the fastest Tesla in production right now, with a 0-60 time of around 2 seconds. It is available for delivery within weeks in most markets. The Model 3 Performance is also available when ready and costs significantly less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my $50,000 reservation fee back?

Yes. You can cancel your reservation through your Tesla account and request a refund. Tesla says refunds are processed within 30 days, though some people have reported longer waits. Contact Tesla's support team if your refund does not arrive within that window.

Will the price stay the same when the Roadster finally ships?

No. Tesla has changed prices on reserved vehicles before. The $50,000 you pay now is a reservation fee, not a down payment locked to a specific price. When you order the car, the final price may be higher or lower than what it is today.

Is there any chance the Roadster gets cancelled entirely?

It is unlikely but not impossible. Tesla has cancelled projects before, though usually after years of development. If the Roadster were cancelled, Tesla would have to refund all reservation holders. The company has too much public commitment to the car to cancel it quietly.

Should I reserve now or wait for a confirmed date?

That depends on whether you want to be first in line. Reserving now costs you $50,000 that you cannot use elsewhere, but it does may provide you will get the car before people who reserve later. If you do not care about being early, waiting for a confirmed date makes more financial sense.