Tesla Roadster launch postponed to October 15, SpaceX propulsion system may be demonstrated

Tesla has postponed the launch event for the next-generation Roadster from 1 October to 15 October because of a forecast of severe weather.

Tesla said on X that it had been monitoring the weather closely with local authorities. However, with severe weather expected and the event requiring an outdoor venue, the company decided to push it back.

The event was due to start at 8:30pm ET on 1 October, at a SpaceX rocket testing facility near Waco, Texas. It will now take place at the same location on 15 October.

The choice of venue had already led to speculation that Tesla could use the event to demonstrate the Roadster's SpaceX-related propulsion technology.

Tesla first showed the next-generation Roadster as a concept in November 2017. Elon Musk originally said production would begin in 2020, but that target has since been pushed back several times.

With the latest postponement, the Roadster's timeline has now changed for the eighth known time.

Based on Tesla's previous announcements, the entry-level Roadster will use a three-motor all-wheel-drive system, with a claimed 0–100 km/h time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed of more than 400 km/h and a range of around 1,000 km.

Production is expected to start at Giga Texas in mid-2027.

One of the main things to watch at the event will be Tesla and SpaceX's jointly developed A71 cold-air propulsion system.

The system uses high-pressure gas nozzles rather than burning fuel. It is designed to provide extra thrust during acceleration and could even allow the car to briefly lift off the ground.

The engineering team reportedly completed an internal demonstration in late April, but the technology has yet to reach the stage where it can be shown publicly.

That is another reason the SpaceX rocket testing facility has attracted attention. If Tesla does plan to demonstrate the system's ability to lift the Roadster off the ground, weather conditions will be an important consideration.

The Roadster has been part of Tesla's story since the company's early days, and the next-generation model has been in development for almost a decade.

For Tesla fans in Hong Kong, the next question will be whether the new Roadster eventually becomes available locally.

The event is now scheduled for 15 October. After such a long wait, the Roadster still has another few weeks before it finally gets its next big stage.

Source: Tesla Official Announcement on X

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