Tesla Roadster Event on October 15: Nine Years, Zero Cars, and Now a Weather Delay

Nine years. Zero cars. And now, a new date. As Electrek reported, Tesla will finally stream its next-generation Roadster event this Thursday, October 15, two weeks after it was supposed to happen.

I will say it straight, and sorry to Tesla and Elon fans if I offend anyone: for me, this feels like a joke on us. I have every right to say out loud what I feel. In my opinion, Elon Musk is the biggest speculator of our time. He knows how to attract money, and then he does what he wants.

In this article: What we know about Thursday · Nine years, zero cars · Delayed because of the weather? · Where is the money from 2017? · Pay first, no car promised · SpaceX thrusters? I am laughing · A remote-controlled demo car · Teslas you can actually buy · Who buys a $200,000 promise? · What happens on Thursday · My prediction: a prototype · FAQ

What we know about Thursday

The event is in Waco, Texas, with a livestream on X at 7:55 pm Central. It is invite-only for reservation holders aged 21 and older, and it can only be held outdoors.

Everything Tesla and Musk have teased points to SpaceX cold gas thrusters. Musk has talked about 0-60 mph in about one second with an optional thruster package. According to Electrek, the demo was scaled back from “flying” to a short hover, and the demo car is reportedly remote-operated and not street-legal. Patents also point to fans for downforce, and possibly even upside-down driving, but that is speculation.

Nine years, zero cars

In November 2017, Tesla promised a four-seat Roadster with 620 miles of range, 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, for $200,000, and $250,000 for the Founders Series. Production was promised for 2020. Then 2021, 2022, 2023, “hopefully” 2024, 2025, and now 2027 or 2028. Electrek counts at least six production delays and seven unveil dates.

I do not believe this man anymore. I get goosebumps when I hear one of his interviews. I wonder where we turned, that so many people still support him. Maybe some people look in the same direction as him. But nine years of collecting money, with a contract written so nicely, for me it is like making money out of thin air. I hate this kind of behavior toward us.

Delayed because of the weather?

Tesla moved the event from October 1 and said it had been “tracking the weather closely with local meteorologists” and that the show “can only be held outdoors.” Musk wrote that it was postponed “due to high winds.”

So what kind of car is this? A car that only drives when it is warm and sunny outside, with no rain and no wind? I have never heard of anything like that. In my opinion, it is an excuse. I see in it only that the car is not ready, and maybe, even when it is shown, it will never really be on the road. The top comment under Electrek’s article joked exactly about that, and 38 people liked it.

People, do not jump on this again. I do not care if someone says I only criticize. Maybe criticism is what keeps his feet on the ground.

Where is the money from 2017?

Reservations cost $50,000: $5,000 by card and $45,000 by wire within 10 days. According to SlashGear, there is no cancel button, the deposits are not held in escrow, and disputes go to arbitration. Some buyers got the $45,000 back but not the $5,000. Even MKBHD canceled one of his reservations after almost eight years. And now Tesla reopened reservations, again for $50,000.

Why did they collect it in 2017? Where is that money after nine years? People do not know what is happening with the old reservations, and now there will be new ones. In my opinion, this is not genius anymore. It feels more like collecting money for promises than selling a car.

Please, I hope nobody pays this again. It is enough that people from the first round still cannot get their money back. Where are our rights as customers? I think many people jumped on his word back then, because we saw him as a visionary of the future.

Pay first, no car promised

I would not put down a single cent. Which car company collects money in advance like this? It is like Porsche saying: here is a test version, pay in advance, but we do not promise to deliver, and we put that in the terms. In my opinion, there is only one man in the world who does this, and that is Elon Musk. People really should stop supporting this. It does not make sense.

SpaceX thrusters? I am laughing

Thrusters for what? A few bursts and that is it. In my opinion, it is nothing serious, just a way to make the car more expensive. It reminds me of people who played Need for Speed and then put carbon parts and boosters on real cars, with blue flames behind them. For me, it is just PR.

A remote-controlled demo car

A demo car that is remote-operated and not street-legal, nine years after the reveal. This car was supposed to be out in 2017, or 2018 at the latest. It is still not here. For me, that is mega nonsense.

Teslas you can actually buy

Here is the biggest problem. The top comment on Electrek says the Roadster was supposed to give a “hardcore smackdown” to gasoline cars, and that already happened with cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.

I agree, and I add this: Tesla makes excellent cars that are out now. They are even cheaper today, and quite good. You do not need a deposit. You order, and in maybe a month you have the car at home. That is what fans should support, not this madness. I wrote about the real Tesla business in my Tesla Q3 deliveries article.

Who buys a $200,000 promise?

Maybe someone will buy it, I do not say no. But even if there is a demo, we do not know in how many years production will start. Right now, everything is speculation. And what fascinates me: they waited nine years, and then waited for the weather to do a demo?

Musk said there will never be another car like this, “if you could even call it a car.” I would not take that seriously. In my opinion, everything Musk says is above reality, always connected with fantasy.

What happens on Thursday

I am sure the show will be more or less wow. But I do not believe that wow will be on the road soon.

And Tesla stock? In my opinion, after the presentation it may go up again. For me, that is part of the show too.

My prediction: a prototype

In my opinion, it will be only a prototype. A production car cannot wait for perfect weather. That only lowers trust that the car will be okay. If they had to wait for super weather, what does that say about the car?

When will we see the Roadster on the road? I am afraid maybe in five to nine years. If at all.

Featured photo: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tesla Roadster event: FAQ

When is the Tesla Roadster event?

Thursday, October 15, 2026, with a livestream on X at 7:55 pm Central from Waco, Texas. It was moved from October 1 because of the weather.

How long has the Tesla Roadster been delayed?

The Roadster was shown in November 2017 with production promised for 2020. According to Electrek, production slipped at least six times and the unveil date seven times. No car has been delivered.

What will Tesla show at the Roadster event?

Tesla has not confirmed details. Teasers point to SpaceX cold gas thrusters, 0-60 mph in about one second with an optional package, and a short hover demo. Electrek reports the demo car is remote-operated and not street-legal.

How much is the Tesla Roadster deposit?

$50,000: $5,000 by card and $45,000 by wire. Tesla reopened reservations in 2026. Deposits are not held in escrow, and some 2017 buyers report problems getting refunds.

How much will the Tesla Roadster cost?

Tesla has not confirmed a final price. In 2017 it announced $200,000 for the base model and $250,000 for the Founders Series.

Sources: Electrek, Not a Tesla App, InsideEVs, Yahoo Autos, SlashGear, Tesla.

Our Take

Nine years, seven unveil dates, zero cars, and now a delay because of the weather.

In my opinion, Thursday will be a show for X, not a car for the road. I expect a prototype, and I would not pay a single cent in advance.

Buy a Tesla you can actually get. Not a promise.