Tesla has unveiled its long-awaited second-generation Roadster with an absolutely bonkers launch event, but prospective buyers face an unusual warning: placing a reservation does not guarantee the electric supercar will ever reach their driveway.

The admission comes despite Tesla revealing a radically redesigned Roadster featuring extraordinary acceleration claims and technology developed with assistance from SpaceX.

As reported by InsideEVs, Tesla’s reservation agreement explicitly states that the vehicle remains under development and that the company cannot guarantee either a delivery date or delivery itself.

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The warning is particularly significant given the Roadster’s lengthy history. First revealed in 2017, the second-generation sports car was originally scheduled to enter production in 2020, but has repeatedly missed promised launch dates.

Tesla now says production is planned for 2028, more than a decade after the original announcement.

Customers can reserve the Roadster Performance with a US$50,000 deposit, while the more extreme Thrust version requires US$250,000 upfront.

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However, Tesla makes clear that a reservation merely establishes an approximate position in the ordering queue. It does not constitute a binding vehicle purchase agreement.

The company also warns that final pricing remains undecided, with specifications, equipment and features potentially changing before production begins.

Deposits are refundable if customers cancel before signing a purchase agreement or if Tesla cannot supply the vehicle. Reservations cannot be transferred to another buyer.

The latest Roadster unveiling included demonstrations of technology intended to distinguish it from conventional electric supercars.

Tesla claims its most extreme version can accelerate from 0–97km/h in less than one second, while SpaceX-inspired compressed-gas thrusters enable spectacular airborne manoeuvres.

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However, questions remain about the road legality and eventual availability of those features.

The Roadster’s renewed appearance provides evidence that development is continuing, but Tesla’s own contractual warnings underline the uncertainty surrounding its commercial future.

For customers who have already waited nearly nine years, the latest announcement offers another ambitious production target rather than a firm delivery commitment.