Tesla will livestream the unveiling of its long-delayed, second-generation Roadster on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from a SpaceX site in Texas. The event was pushed back two weeks from October 1 due to weather. Elon Musk says an optional SpaceX thruster package could let the car accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under a second, though he says results are "not guaranteed."
Tesla is holding a livestreamed event on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 7:55 p.m. Central time, to unveil the production version of its second-generation Roadster, according to Reuters reporting carried by KSL and separate accounts from Electrek and Yahoo Finance. The event takes place outdoors at a SpaceX test site near McGregor, Texas, close to Waco, and will be streamed on Tesla's account on X.
The reveal was originally scheduled for October 1, 2026, but Tesla postponed it by two weeks, citing adverse weather at the SpaceX facility, Yahoo Finance and Electrek reported.
What Tesla has said to expect
Tesla and Elon Musk have pointed to a collaboration with SpaceX, the rocket company Musk also leads, as the centerpiece of the show. Reporting from Electrek and KSL describes a demonstration involving a SpaceX-developed cold-gas thruster system fitted to what is described as a remote-controlled, non-street-legal prototype rather than the retail production car.
Musk has said the thruster package could allow the Roadster to go from 0 to 60 mph in under one second, down from the 1.9-second figure he originally promised in 2017, per Electrek and KSL. Electrek noted that earlier talk of the car briefly leaving the ground has been scaled back to descriptions of a short hover rather than sustained flight.
It'll be a banger. Excitement guaranteed. Success is not guaranteed, but excitement is.
— Elon Musk, quoted by CleanTechnica
Price and reservations
Reports disagree on pricing. KSL's account of Reuters reporting said the Roadster's price has not been updated from the $200,000 figure Tesla set when it unveiled a prototype in 2017; Electrek separately reported that the 2017 announcement also included a $250,000 'Founders Series' version. Yahoo Finance, however, reported that Tesla has not disclosed a price for the new Roadster and said it is expected to exceed $250,000. Securing a reservation requires a total of $50,000, split into a $5,000 deposit followed by a $45,000 wire transfer due within 10 days, Yahoo Finance reported.
Yahoo Finance noted that Musk's choice of the 7:55 p.m. start time, framed with the phrase 'Timing is everything,' prompted speculation among some observers that the numbers could hint at pricing or a performance figure; analyst Pierre Ferragu was cited suggesting a possible $75,990 price point, though this remains unconfirmed.
Roadster claims: 2017 announcement vs. the 2026 event
Specification
2017 announcement
October 2026 event
0–60 mph
1.9 seconds
Under 1 second with optional SpaceX thruster package (unconfirmed for production)
Range
620 miles
Not confirmed in coverage of Thursday's event
Seats
Four
Four (unchanged)
Base price
$200,000
KSL/Reuters: unchanged at $200,000; Yahoo Finance: undisclosed, expected to exceed $250,000
Founders Series price
$250,000 (per Electrek)
Not confirmed for the 2026 car
Reservation deposit
$50,000 total
$5,000 deposit + $45,000 within 10 days
Nine years of delays
Tesla first showed a Roadster prototype in November 2017 and promised deliveries starting in 2020, Electrek and KSL reported. The unveiling of the finished production car has slipped repeatedly since then; Electrek counted at least seven changes to the planned reveal date, starting when the event was originally targeted for late 2025.
In 2023, Musk described the Roadster project as a 'small potato situation' that would not 'move the needle in a major way financially' for Tesla, according to KSL's account of Reuters reporting.
Sales outlook and context
Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein expects Tesla to sell around 2,000 Roadsters a year, KSL reported — a small fraction of the 1.6 million vehicles Tesla delivered globally last year. The car is being positioned as Tesla's 'halo' model as the company shifts public attention toward autonomous driving and robotics.
CleanTechnica reported that the launch arrives alongside separate, unrelated controversies involving Musk, including scrutiny of Starlink's role in Ukraine, his political spending during the 2025–2026 election cycle, and criticism of his earlier role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — all of which the outlet said have drawn attention away from the car itself.
What is still unknown
Whether the SpaceX thruster package will ever be offered on a street-legal production car, or remains a one-off demonstration.
Final confirmed specifications for the retail Roadster, including top speed, price, and whether the 620-mile range and 1.9-second 0–60 figures from 2017 still apply to the standard version.
A firm delivery date for reservation holders after nine years of delays.
Whether Thursday's pricing hints, including the $75,990 figure floated by one analyst, correspond to any real number Tesla announces.
Questions
When is the Tesla Roadster being unveiled?
Tesla is livestreaming the unveiling on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 7:55 p.m. Central time from a SpaceX test site near McGregor, Texas, after postponing an originally planned October 1 date due to weather.
How much does the new Tesla Roadster cost?
Sources disagree. KSL, citing Reuters, reported the price is unchanged from the 2017 figure of $200,000 (with a $250,000 'Founders Series' version noted by Electrek), while Yahoo Finance reported that Tesla has not disclosed a price for the new Roadster and said it is expected to exceed $250,000. A reservation requires a $50,000 payment, split into a $5,000 deposit and a $45,000 wire transfer due within 10 days, per Yahoo Finance.
Why has the Tesla Roadster been delayed for nine years?
Tesla first unveiled a Roadster prototype in November 2017 and promised 2020 deliveries, but the production unveiling has slipped repeatedly since; Electrek counted at least seven changes to the planned reveal date, starting when the event was originally targeted for late 2025.
What are the SpaceX thrusters shown with the Roadster?
Reports from Electrek and KSL describe a SpaceX-developed cold-gas thruster system demonstrated on a remote-controlled, non-street-legal prototype, which Musk says could enable under-1-second 0–60 mph acceleration; it is not confirmed as a production feature.
How many Roadsters is Tesla expected to sell?
Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein estimated roughly 2,000 Roadster sales per year, according to KSL's report of Reuters reporting — a small volume next to Tesla's 1.6 million total deliveries last year.
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
From 14 October 2026, UK MOT testers must accept ECE-approved LED replacement bulbs fitted in compatible halogen headlamps, ending a previous blanket rejection. The bulb must carry a permanently fixed approval sticker showing specific details, or the headlamp fails with a major defect.
Most EV owners should plan for a 240-volt Level 2 charger, since it is the setup that nearly all US EV owners end up using. The right choice depends on your vehicle's onboard charger, your home's electrical capacity, and whether you want a plug-in or hardwired unit — and in nearly every case, a licensed electrician must assess the panel and pull the permit before installation.
A preventive car maintenance schedule combines quick monthly checks (oil and coolant level, tire pressure and tread, lights) with mileage-based services, and a few annual tasks. U.S. industry groups put oil changes at roughly every 3,000–7,500 miles depending on oil type and tire rotation at 5,000–7,500 miles, while brake inspections and wheel alignment checks are recommended once a year.
A lithium-ion battery stores energy by moving lithium ions between two electrodes — the anode and the cathode — through a liquid electrolyte. In an electric vehicle, thousands of these cells are grouped into modules and then a pack, managed by electronics that control voltage, temperature and charging speed.
