Tesla ‘Cannot Guarantee’ Your Roadster Pre-Order Will Ever Be Delivered

Tesla has re-revealed its next-generation Roadster after nearly a decade of development, and the fighter jet-inspired sports car comes with staggering performance claims, including the ability to jump over a Tesla Semi. But there is a catch buried in the reservation paperwork: Tesla cannot guarantee that a pre-order will ever be fulfilled.

The reservation agreement, visible when attempting to place an order on Tesla’s website, states plainly: “You understand that Roadster is still under development at the time you entered into this Agreement and so we cannot guarantee when your vehicle will actually be delivered or if it will be delivered.” Tesla emphasizes that the reservation is not a bona fide order. It secures only an approximate place in line, contingent on the car actually reaching the road.

Buyers must front as much as $250,000 to reserve a Roadster, yet the price is merely an estimate. The agreement notes that any price shown is provisional and that features, options, and hardware may change before launch, which is currently slated for 2028. The final purchase price will be confirmed only once the buyer configures their vehicle.

Notably, the Roadster reservation agreement does not include a no-resale clause, unlike the purchase agreements for the Cybertruck Foundation Series and the Tesla Model S Signature Edition. However, reservations are non-transferable. On the positive side, Tesla confirms that reservations are fully refundable if the buyer changes their mind or if Tesla is unable to deliver the vehicle.

The article also points to the long line of early reservers, some of whom have held reservations since 2017, suggesting they may be willing to wait even longer given the current timeline.