Tesla takes $50,000 Roadster deposits before Oct. 1 reveal

Tesla has quietly reopened reservations for its next-generation Roadster, asking prospective buyers to put down $50,000 well before the vehicle is officially shown. The reservation page went live this week, roughly two weeks ahead of the car's unveiling scheduled for October 1 near Waco, Texas. According to the source, this is the second time Tesla has taken deposits for the Roadster.

The unusually large deposit — $50,000 — signals that Tesla is targeting a high-end market for its flagship sports car. Collecting reservations before a public reveal is common in the auto industry, but the timing here is notable: customers are being asked to commit substantial capital to a vehicle they have not yet seen in production form.

This move also raises questions about how Tesla is managing demand and production timelines for its lineup. Since the article is based on a single source, there are no competing perspectives to compare, but the fact that Tesla is repeating its deposit process suggests the company is serious about gauging interest ahead of the upcoming event.