Tesla delays Roadster demo to August, adds SpaceX thruster
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- Tesla delayed the public demo of its next‑generation Roadster to August or later, according to The Information.
- SpaceX cold‑gas thruster system (“A71”) is the centerpiece of the demo, intended to dramatically boost acceleration and briefly lift the car off the ground.
- Elon Musk has shifted the Roadster timeline at least eight times since the 2017 prototype, with the latest public date moving from April 1 2026 to August.
- Tesla gave Musk an internal demonstration of the A71 thruster system in late April, showing progress on the SpaceX‑Tesla collaboration.
- Tesla plans a limited‑edition SpaceX‑branded Roadster and a scaled‑down version, both incorporating the cold‑gas thruster.
- Tesla still owes $50,000‑$250,000 deposits to early reservation holders who have waited nearly a decade without a production vehicle.
- Sam Altman tried to cancel his Roadster reservation in October 2025 but discovered the reservation email address had been shut down.
Why it matters: Early reservation customers lose confidence as their $50,000‑$250,000 deposits remain unfulfilled, while Tesla’s repeated postponements undermine its credibility and give rivals like Rimac, Lotus, and Xiaomi a market advantage in high‑performance EVs. The delay also pushes the much‑anticipated SpaceX thruster showcase further into the future, reducing immediate media buzz and potentially affecting Tesla’s brand perception among tech‑enthusiasts.
