Tesla Sets October 1 Date for Roadster Demonstration Event
The company teased the event with a 'Go for launch' image, following multiple previous delays of the second-generation model.
Tesla has officially set an October 1 date for a next-generation Roadster demonstration event, signaling a move forward for a project that has faced years of delays. The announcement comes via a social media post featuring the car lit up on a launch pad-like setting, accompanied by the caption "Go for launch."
What Happened
Tesla posted an image on X on Saturday showing the Roadster with the date "10.01" stamped at the bottom. A countdown clock on the company's Roadster order page now aligns with this date, which falls on a Thursday. The company has not yet disclosed the location of the event or whether it will be livestreamed. This tease follows a history of missed targets, including a previous April 1 demo date set by Elon Musk at last November's shareholder meeting, which subsequently slipped to late April, then "a month or so," and finally August.
Why It Matters
The upcoming demonstration is expected to focus on the SpaceX-developed thruster package, internally code-named A71. This system reportedly utilizes cold gas thrusters fed by a composite overwrapped pressure vessel similar to those used on Falcon 9 rockets. Musk has suggested that a thruster-equipped Roadster could achieve 0 to 60 mph in approximately 1.1 seconds under 2.75 g of launch force, significantly faster than the 1.9-second figure quoted for the standard model. However, this high-performance variant is reportedly not street-legal and may be offered as a limited run through a track-only program. Meanwhile, the standard Roadster retains its original $200,000 base price and $250,000 Founders Series tier, with production expected at Gigafactory Texas in 2027 or 2028.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has committed to an October 1 demonstration date for the next-generation Roadster, aiming to showcase the SpaceX thruster package. While the event marks a concrete step forward after years of shifting timelines, production for the standard model remains targeted for 2027 or 2028, 12 to 18 months after the upcoming demonstration.
