Tesla is again collecting prepayments for the Roadster. 191,000 zł per spot in the queue

In short:

Tesla has reopened reservations for the Roadster

A “spot in line” costs $50,000. This was the case in 2017 as well

Price? It’s not yet known

The Roadster is still in development, and the manufacturer does not guarantee a delivery date

Release date? This time it’s October 1, 2026

Tesla has once again started accepting reservations for the second-generation Roadster. Interested parties must pay a total of $50,000, which is approximately 191,000 zł at the current exchange rate. This is not the price of the car but a deposit that secures a approximate spot in line for later configuration and ordering.

The payment is split into two parts. First, $5,000, or about 19,000 zł, must be paid by card, followed by another $45,000—about 172,000 zł—to be transferred within 10 days. Only after the full amount is received does the reservation become active.

An important detail is outlined in Tesla’s current terms and conditions. A reservation is not yet a car order, and the manufacturer explicitly admits it does not know the final price of the Roadster. A deposit can be applied toward the purchase, but until the actual sales contract is signed, the customer can cancel the reservation and get their money back. Tesla also notes that the Roadster is still in development, and the company does not guarantee a delivery date.

The Roadster Returns on October 1

Tesla confirmed the new date with a short teaser titled “Go for launch” along with a graphic showing the date 10.01. A countdown to October 1 also appeared on the Roadster’s official website. According to industry reports, the event is set to take place in Texas, around Waco.

This is an important date, though with the Roadster, the term “launch date” needs to be used cautiously. The prototype of the second generation was shown as early as November 2017, with production set to begin in 2020. Since then, the deadline has been postponed multiple times, and no customers have received the car yet.

The first interested parties also paid $50,000 in 2017. Even more extreme was the Founders Series, for which Tesla demanded a full $250,000 upfront. At today’s exchange rate, that would be approximately 957,000 zł.

Nine years ago, the Roadster was priced at $200,000.

The original specifications were quite impressive. Tesla announced a base price of $200,000, 0 to 60 mph acceleration in under 1.9 seconds, a top speed exceeding 250 mph, or over 402 km/h, and a range of 620 miles—nearly 1,000 km.

Interestingly, the official Roadster website still lists very similar figures: 1.9 seconds to 60 mph, a top speed over 250 mph, and a range of 620 miles. However, these should not be assumed to be the final specifications for the car we will see on October 1. Tesla has suggested on multiple occasions over the past years that the design has been significantly altered.

The old price of $200,000, which is approximately 766,000 zł at the current exchange rate, may also be outdated. The current reservation terms clearly state that Tesla is still working on the specifications, technical solutions, and price, all of which will be confirmed at a later stage.

The SpaceX package generates the most excitement

The Roadster was originally intended to be a very fast electric supercar. Over time, however, Elon Musk began announcing a much more unconventional solution—a set of thrusters using compressed gas developed with SpaceX technology.

Musk suggested that the system could radically improve the car’s performance, with subsequent announcements going even further. The demonstration is set to showcase the Roadster’s ability to lift off from the ground or hover briefly. According to current information, the demo vehicle will be remotely controlled and will not conform to standard road-legal vehicles.

Musk himself is fueling expectations ahead of the event. At the All-In Summit, he assured that the demonstration would be spectacular, though he also noted that it guarantees excitement rather than a guaranteed success. Tesla likely wants an audience present to ensure there are no doubts that any hovering car display is not computer-generated footage.

The October 1 demonstration does not mean quick deliveries

Even if the October presentation takes place as planned, there will still be a long time before mass production begins. Musk has previously said that production could start 12-18 months after the demonstration. Starting from October 1, 2026, this would mean a period from late 2027 to spring 2028.

This actually fits much better with Tesla’s official documents than the idea of deliveries this year. The current reservation terms do not specify any guaranteed date, and the manufacturer itself describes the Roadster as a car still in the development phase.

This means that someone who deposits $50,000 today can lock away about 191 thousand zł long before production begins. On the other hand, the current regulations allow for a withdrawal and recovery of funds before the actual purchase contract is signed.

Not all past customers have positive experiences with reservations

The history of previous reservations, however, gives reason to be cautious. YouTuber Marques Brownlee described in 2025 the difficulties of canceling an order and contacting Tesla after eight years of waiting. Initially, he claimed to have recovered only $45,000 out of the $50,000 deposited, but later reported that Tesla also returned the missing $5,000.

Sam Altman also spoke about his difficulties in canceling a reservation; he had been among the customers waiting for the Roadster for years. This doesn’t change the current policy, which states that money is refundable, but it clearly shows how long this car’s story has been ongoing.

Will the Roadster return at last, or will we get another prototype?

This time the situation seems more serious than with many previous announcements. Tesla has set a specific date, started counting down, and is once again accepting payments from customers. On October 1, we should learn about the new version of the Roadster, its specifications, price, and more detailed production plans.

This doesn’t change the fact that it can still take several months between the presentation and the first car arriving at the customer. The Roadster was supposed to go into production in 2020, and those who paid at the first presentation are now waiting for almost nine years.

So the most important news on October 1st won’t even be whether the Roadster will actually leave the ground. What’s much more interesting will be whether Tesla finally provides a specific and credible timeline for starting production.

Piotr Sobczyk