$250,000 to reserve a car that ships in 2028, and the price is still not announced
The short version
You can put a deposit down today for a car that goes into production in 2028, and nobody has told you what it will cost. $5,000 today reserves Performance, and $45,000 follows within 10 days. Thrust is $5,000 plus $245,000.
What was announced
Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster at an event near Waco, Texas, on 15 October 2026. The car uses ten cold-gas thrusters and high-pressure air tanks, and the demo included a mid-air barrel roll before landing on its wheels. Tesla’s own post claims 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds.
| Trim | Reservation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | $50,000$5,000 today, $45,000 in 10 days | Open |
| Thrust | $250,000$5,000 today, $245,000 in 10 days | Open, limited |
| Rocket | Invite only | Closed to the public |
The catch
A reservation is not a price. Tesla has not published the final cost of the car, and analysts quoted by the LA Times expect more than $250,000. The deposit is fully refundable only in the first $5,000 stage; the second payment is subject to cancellation if it is not completed within 10 days.
The other number that matters is the date. Production is scheduled for 2028, and Musk has delayed this car repeatedly since 2017.
Why it matters for AI and automation
Musk’s own framing is software, not hardware: he said buyers will be able to ask the car to perform the tricks autonomously. That is an autonomy claim, and autonomy claims are what you should price separately. It is the same pattern we cover in AI agents that promise more than they deliver.
Source
Tesla reservation page (tesla.com/roadster/reserve), read 20 October 2026; Tesla’s post on X, 16 October 2026; LA Times reporting, 17 October 2026.
Numbers read from the primary source on 20 October 2026. Vendors change prices and terms, so check before you commit.