Tesla's launch event for the second generation of Roadster was once again dampened by the weather.
The automaker stated on Monday that due to severe weather conditions, they had made a “difficult decision” to postpone the outdoor launch event originally scheduled for Thursday. Tesla was set to hold this event near Waco, Texas – according to The Weather Channel, there is a 90% probability of thunderstorms on Thursday in that area.
The current event has been rescheduled to October 15th.
The first-generation Roadster was Tesla's first car: a battery-powered sports car built on a significantly modified Lotus Elise chassis. Tesla stopped selling this model in 2012.
In 2017, Musk unveiled the prototype of his successor model, stating that production would begin in 2020. Tesla promised at that time that this electric sports car would have an 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of just 1.9 seconds, a top speed of about 250 miles per hour, and a range of over 600 miles.
Tesla has started accepting reservations, with deposit amounts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, but the company has missed several of the targeted delivery dates for this vehicle since then. Musk thanked these "long-term waiting" deposit payers during the 2024 financial report conference call.
A large part of the delay is related to Tesla's shift in focus: the company has moved from traditional car sales to a greater emphasis on autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. Musk has also hinted at cooperation with SpaceX, which may involve equipping Roadster with cold gas thrusters—by his words, something "rocket-like"—that would allow the cars to lift off the ground briefly.
