Physix FrontierPhysix Frontier · News Briefing Card (Engadget · Oct 17, 2026)
Tesla Relaunches Roadster, Targets 2028 Production
KEY FACTS
- Tesla relaunched the Roadster at its October 15 event, saying production will begin in 2028.
- The Thrust version is priced at $250,000 for pre-order and is equipped with cold-gas thrusters.
- The Roadster first appeared in 2017, was originally scheduled for production in 2020, and has been delayed repeatedly since.
- Tesla has been taking reservations since 2018, with deposits ranging from $50,000 to $250,000.
- Musk once promised a SpaceX package containing about 10 small rocket thrusters.
KEY DATA
$250,000Thrust version pre-order price
$50,000-$250,000Deposit range
2028Target production year
244 milesOriginal Roadster range
PHYSIX OBSERVATION
The Roadster has slipped for nearly a decade since its 2017 debut, yet deposits keep being collected without fail; this "2028" looks more like a gesture to placate existing reservation holders. For the industry, Tesla using rocket thrusters as a gimmick shows that high-end EV competition has shifted toward hype marketing; for buyers, betting $250,000 on a repeatedly broken promise carries far more risk than reward.
Source: Engadget report