Shocker: New Tesla Roadster launch delayed until October 15

News

Just days before its ninth scheduled launch in nine years, the Tesla Roadster unveiling has been pushed back again

GE

George East

29 September 2026 · 3 min read

Surprising absolutely nobody, Tesla has confirmed that the launch of its new Tesla Roadster is delayed until October 15, citing “severe” weather as the reason.

The second-generation Roadster was scheduled for an outdoor launch on October 1 at SpaceX’s rocket test site in McGregor, near Waco.

In an email to invitees in the run-up to the event, Tesla communicated that “there is a possibility we may need to reschedule due to weather”, as it promises to feature “a unique experience that must be held outdoors”.

Speculation suggests the outdoor launch is due to the car’s rumoured SpaceX-developed rocket thrusters, which are remotely operated and shouldn’t be activated in a closed space.

According to reports, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told the firm’s employees that this “will be hard to pull off and could go wrong”.

An optional extra, the boosters will, apparently, be able to propel the new Roadster from 0-62mph in 1.1 seconds and provide the car with the ability to float or hover over water for a limited time period.

While the forecast for October 1 suggests an 82% chance of rain with thunderstorms, 30mph winds, and over four inches of rain, conditions improve for the rest of the week. From Sunday, October 4, the forecast is mostly dry until Wednesday, October 7.

Online commentators have questioned Tesla’s motives for pushing the Roadster’s launch date back by a fortnight, given the inclement conditions will pass in a matter of days.

This latest pushback damages the car and the brand’s credibility even further, given that a prototype version was unveiled as far back as 2017, with a 2020 production schedule. It was then moved to 2021, then 2022, 2023, 2024, and three times in 2026 – April 1, then later in April, mid-spring, and as recently as October 1. Moreover, the Roadster launch is an invite-only affair for customers who have put down a deposit.

This isn’t the first time this year that Tesla has disgruntled its clientele. The delivery event for the final version of its Model S, the $159,420 (£120,500) ‘Signature Edition’ was postponed at the last minute without a refund.

A similar level of discord amongst Roadster buyers is evident. On Electrek.co, user HBrown, wrote: “In a related story, the Elon forecast is calling for a 100% chance of stock pumping, a 95% chance of further timeline slippage, and a 90% chance of lies relating to price and performance.”

Whether the Tesla Roadster appears on October 15 is now anyone’s guess.