The car hasn't even been revealed yet, and two of its most high-profile reservation holders have already walked away. That might be the most telling detail about Tesla's second-gen Roadster after nine long years.
Tesla's official X account confirmed that the all-electric supercar will officially debut on October 10. Tesla's website has also put up a countdown page featuring an image that some are interpreting as a hint at the long-rumored cold-gas thrusters—the centerpiece feature that CEO Elon Musk once dubbed the "SpaceX package" when the prototype was first unveiled in 2017, essentially giving the Roadster some kind of flying capability. Tech outlet The Information reported back in August that Tesla was preparing to launch the Roadster, specifically calling out the flight feature. Exactly how this capability will actually manifest remains unknown, and whether it ends up being all hype with little substance—à la the Cybertruck's "Wade Mode"—is anyone's guess.
Back in 2017, when the Roadster prototype first debuted, Tesla laid out staggering specs: 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds, a top speed over 250 mph, and a range exceeding 600 miles. The base version was priced at $200,000, while the Founder's Edition ran $250,000. Regular customers looking to reserve one had to put down a $50,000 deposit upfront.
But nine years later, waiting has turned into watching from the sidelines, and watching has turned into giving up altogether. Several early reservation holders—including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee—have canceled their Roadster orders. Both figures carry serious weight in the tech world, and their exits reflect something bigger: the endlessly delayed launch timeline hasn't just worn down people's patience—it's eroded trust in the promise itself.
Tesla's track record on hitting deadlines hasn't exactly inspired confidence. Whether this October 10 debut actually happens as planned remains to be seen—we'll find out when the day arrives.
