Tesla has quietly flipped the switch on next-generation Roadster reservations worldwide, once again asking customers to commit tens of thousands of dollars to hold a spot in line for a car that still has no confirmed production date. The move, first flagged by @TeslaNewswire early Friday, comes less than two weeks before Tesla's confirmed Roadster reveal event on October 1 in Waco, Texas — signaling the company wants deposits on the books before it puts the production-intent car under the lights.
The reopened reservation page requires a fully refundable deposit of $50,000 in the United States and $64,000 CAD in Canada, split between an immediate credit card payment and a wire transfer due within 10 days. Tesla China has also opened the queue, with a deposit of RMB 332,000 (roughly $52,120 USD), according to reporting from Tesla North.
The Reservation Terms, By Region
| Region | Card Deposit | Wire Transfer | Total (Refundable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $5,000 USD | $45,000 USD (10 days) | $50,000 USD |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $6,000 CAD | $58,000 CAD (10 days) | $64,000 CAD |
| 🇨🇳 China | Single deposit | RMB 332,000 (~$52,120 USD) | |
Both the US and Canadian structures follow the same pattern: a small card charge secures the initial slot, followed by a much larger wire transfer within 10 days to convert the reservation to full standing. The full deposit is refundable at any time through the Tesla Account until a Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement is signed — which, given development timelines, is likely still a year or more away.
Why Reopen Now?
The timing is not accidental. Tesla has confirmed an October 1, 2026 reveal event for the next-gen Roadster in Waco, Texas, with invitations already sent to existing reservation holders and RSVPs required by September 16. Reopening deposits roughly two weeks before that event lets Tesla capture demand from customers who don't want to wait for the post-reveal rush — and gives the company a fresh interest-free capital pool ahead of what is expected to be its most theatrical product launch since the Cybertruck.
It also resets the reservation book. The original Roadster order queue was opened in 2017, and many of those holders have been waiting nearly a decade for delivery. By reopening reservations globally rather than only honoring the legacy list, Tesla signals that the production Roadster — whenever it arrives — will be a genuinely new commercial product, not just a fulfillment of long-standing pre-orders.
What Tesla Is Still Not Committing To
Two things are conspicuously absent from the reopened reservation page: a final retail price and a delivery date. The 2017-era pricing of $200,000 for the base car and $250,000 for the Founders Series has been removed from Tesla's website, and the company has not published replacement figures. Production targets, according to industry reporting, remain in the 2027–2028 window, and Tesla has not guaranteed specific delivery dates to reservation holders.
Performance claims that Tesla continues to market — a top speed above 250 mph, roughly 620 miles of range, and a 0–60 mph time under two seconds (or under one second with a rumored "SpaceX package" using cold-gas thrusters) — remain promotional until the October reveal shows a production-intent vehicle with final specifications. Reservation holders are, in effect, paying $50,000 to hold a place in a queue for a car whose price, timing, and final specs are all still to be determined.
Key Figures
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| US refundable deposit | $50,000 |
| Canada refundable deposit | $64,000 CAD |
| China deposit | RMB 332,000 (~$52,120 USD) |
| Reveal date | October 1, 2026 — Waco, Texas |
| Existing holder RSVP deadline | September 16, 2026 |
| Reported production window | 2027–2028 (unconfirmed) |
What to Watch on October 1
The Waco reveal is the pivot point. Reservation holders — and prospective new depositors — should be watching for four specific signals when Tesla takes the stage:
- A confirmed retail price. Until Tesla publishes it, the $50,000 deposit is uncapped in terms of what a final purchase agreement will look like.
- A production start window. Anything more specific than "2027" would be a meaningful commitment.
- Whether the "SpaceX package" is real. Cold-gas thrusters have been rumored for years; a working demonstration would separate marketing from engineering.
- Delivery priority for legacy reservation holders. Customers who deposited in 2017 will want to know where they sit relative to the newly reopened queue.
The Bottom Line for Owners and Enthusiasts
Reopening reservations globally is a confidence move — Tesla is telling the market that a production Roadster is close enough to justify collecting deposits again. But the fully refundable structure is also a hedge: customers can walk away at any point before signing a purchase agreement, which effectively makes the deposit an interest-free loan to Tesla rather than a binding commitment. If the October 1 reveal delivers a firm price, timeline, and production-intent vehicle, the reservation book could fill quickly. If it doesn't, expect the refund line to move just as fast.
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Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @TeslaNewswire on X (2026-09-19T07:13:38.000Z) — Direct source
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