The new Tesla Roadster finally has a reveal date behind it, but there is still no official Tesla Roadster price. Tesla showed the car on October 15, 2026, at SpaceX’s test site in McGregor, Texas. Elon Musk said production will start in 2028 and didn’t name a price. What you can see is the cost of getting in line: a $50,000 reservation for the Roadster Performance, $250,000 for the Thrust version, and an invite-only Rocket. Here’s what that money buys, what it doesn’t, and how realistic 2028 looks.
If you want the backstory, our Tesla Roadster history and pre-reveal explainer covers the original 2008 car and the long road to this event. This article sticks to what changed on October 15.
Tesla Roadster price: what Tesla has (and hasn’t) said
Tesla has not announced a Tesla Roadster price. CNBC and TechCrunch both noted that no price was given at the event. The only dollar figures are reservation amounts on Tesla’s US reservation page:
| Roadster version | Tesla’s description | Seats | US reservation | How you get one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | “Road ready,” active aero and multi-mode suction system | 2 | $50,000 ($5,000 due today, $45,000 within 10 days) | By reservation |
| Thrust | “Race ready,” adds rear cold-gas acceleration thrusters | 2 | $250,000 | Limited release |
| Rocket | “Air ready,” adds a full flight system | 1 | Not public | Invite only |
Sources: tesla.com/roadster and tesla.com/en_US/roadster/reserve (checked October 22, 2026); Thrust amount per TechCrunch. These are reservation payments, not vehicle prices.
The terms matter. Tesla’s page says the reservation isn’t final until the $45,000 balance arrives, and it can be cancelled if you miss the 10-day window. According to the US reservation agreement, any price Tesla quotes before you configure the car is only an estimate, and your payment is refundable until you finish configuring. In practice, you’re giving Tesla $50,000 (or $250,000) to hold a place in line for a car whose final sticker price isn’t known.
For context, the 2017 Roadster program took $50,000 deposits, and $250,000 for one of 1,000 Founders Series cars, TechCrunch noted. The new amounts are the same. One 2017 Founders reservation holder told CNBC his $250,000 had effectively been an “interest-free loan” to Tesla for nine years.
What’s confirmed
These points come from Tesla’s own pages or from what Tesla executives said on stage, as reported by major outlets.
- Reveal: October 15, 2026, at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas, test site (Car and Driver).
- Production timing: Musk said Tesla will start building it in 2028. Car and Driver noted he added “actually” with a laugh.
- Three versions: Performance, Thrust and Rocket, as listed on tesla.com/roadster. Rocket seats one. The other two seat two.
- 0-60 mph: Tesla’s site says the Thrust version gets from 0 to 60 mph in under 1 second, using rear cold-gas thrusters. CNBC reported that a run on stage showed under a second on Tesla’s timer.
- Road legality: Tesla’s site notes the Rocket’s flight capability is “not approved for public road use.” Musk also said on stage, “This is not necessarily a safety-optimized car,” according to CNBC.
- No FSD: The Roadster won’t have Tesla’s FSD system. Musk said it will be the last Tesla intended to be driven by a human, CNBC reported.
- Reservation markets: CNBC said reservations reopened in the US, Canada and China.
What’s rumored or reported
These figures come from presenters at the event and from press coverage. Tesla hasn’t published them as official specs.
- Range and top speed: TechCrunch reported that all three versions will have 300 miles of range and top speeds above 230 mph. Musk said on stage he wants the car to reach half the speed of sound, about 383 mph, Car and Driver reported.
- Thrusters: Car and Driver reported that the thrusters are fed by ultra-high-pressure air tanks the car can refill itself, not by rocket fuel. Engineering VP Lars Moravy described a 10-thruster setup, TechCrunch reported.
- Weight: YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who attended, called it a “4000+ pound car,” TechCrunch reported. Tesla hasn’t published a curb weight.
- Street legality: CNBC said it was unclear whether the car will be street-legal. Musk said, “I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own,” according to Car and Driver.
One correction to a number that’s floating around: we couldn’t find any reputable source for a “330 mph” top speed. The figure Musk gave was “over 230 mph.”
Tesla Roadster release date: how much faith to put in 2028
The honest answer is: some, but not much. When the Roadster was unveiled in 2017, deliveries were supposed to start in 2020. TechCrunch’s timeline shows the date then slipped to 2021, 2023 and 2024 before this latest reset. CNBC wrote that Tesla “has since missed every targeted delivery date.”
There are two reasons 2028 is more believable than past dates. First, there is now a running car that’s been shown in public, not just a static prototype. Second, Musk gave the date on stage at a full launch event, and reservations were already open again. That said, Tesla’s US reservation agreement says the company can’t guarantee when your car will be delivered, or whether it will be delivered at all. Tesla wrote that in its own contract, so reservation holders should take it seriously.
Our estimate: if production starts in 2028, the first cars will go to early reservation holders, many of them from the 2017 list. A new reservation placed today would likely mean a delivery in 2029 or later. That’s our reading of how Tesla has handled launch queues before, not a Tesla commitment.
Roadster specs at a glance
| Spec | Figure | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| 0-60 mph (Thrust) | Under 1 second | Official, tesla.com |
| Range | 300 miles (all versions) | Reported by TechCrunch |
| Top speed | Over 230 mph | Musk on stage, per Car and Driver and TechCrunch |
| Seats | 2 (Performance, Thrust), 1 (Rocket) | Official, tesla.com |
| Driver assistance | No FSD | Musk on stage, per CNBC |
| Production start | 2028 | Musk on stage |
| Price | Not announced | Reservations: $50,000 / $250,000 / invite only |
Should you reserve one?
It could make sense if you can afford to have $50,000 tied up, interest-free, for two to four years. You’d also need to be fine with not knowing the final price, and to see the reservation as a refundable bet rather than a purchase. Tesla says the payment is refundable until you configure the car, but you won’t earn anything on it in the meantime.
Skip it if you want a fast EV you can register and drive in the next year. Many cars that are on sale now are nearly as quick in practice. The 2027 Audi RS e-tron GT Performance has 912 hp and hit 60 mph in 2.1 seconds in Car and Driver’s testing. Audi lists it from $170,500 before destination on audiusa.com. Car and Driver lists the Porsche Taycan from $114,250 on the same page.
| Car | US starting price | 0-60 mph | Can you buy it today? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Roadster Performance | Not announced ($50,000 reservation) | Not published for this version | No. Production planned for 2028 |
| Tesla Roadster Thrust | Not announced ($250,000 reservation) | Under 1 sec (Tesla claim) | No. Limited release |
| Audi RS e-tron GT Performance | $170,500 (excl. destination) | 2.1 sec (C/D test) | Yes |
| Porsche Taycan | $114,250 (per C/D) | Varies by trim | Yes |
If you’re curious about what else Tesla has coming, see our roundup of upcoming Tesla cars for 2026 and 2027.
FAQ
How much is the new Tesla Roadster?
Tesla hasn’t announced a price. Reserving a Roadster Performance in the US costs $50,000 ($5,000 up front and $45,000 within 10 days). Thrust takes $250,000, and Rocket is invite only.
When is the Tesla Roadster release date?
Musk said production starts in 2028. Tesla’s reservation agreement says it can’t guarantee a delivery date. The car was first promised for 2020.
Can the Tesla Roadster fly?
Tesla says the invite-only Rocket version has a “full flight system” with cold-gas thrusters around the car, and its site says “it can fly.” Tesla also notes this capability is not approved for public road use.
What is the Tesla Roadster 0-60 time?
Tesla says the Thrust version does 0-60 mph in under 1 second. CNBC reported a sub-one-second run on Tesla’s timer at the reveal. Tesla hasn’t published official times for the Performance or Rocket versions.
Is the Tesla Roadster street legal?
That isn’t settled. CNBC said it was unclear, and Musk said it may not be legal in every jurisdiction. The Rocket’s flight features are not approved for public roads, according to Tesla.
Is the Roadster reservation refundable?
Tesla’s US reservation agreement says it is refundable until you configure your car. Tesla also says refunds won’t be issued for modifications.
