Tesla Roadster deposit terms don't guarantee a car

Days after Tesla re-revealed the Roadster with cold-gas thrusters and a 2028 production target, the small print is getting as much attention as the stunts. InsideEVs spotted that the reservation agreement on Tesla's website plainly says the company cannot guarantee when, or even if, the car will be delivered.

What the agreement says

• It is a reservation, not an order. Buyers get an "approximate" place in line if and when the car reaches production, not a confirmed build slot.
• The price is an estimate. Tesla says it is "still working on" the options, features and hardware, and will confirm the price once customers configure their cars.
• Specs can change between the presentation and launch, which Tesla currently pencils in for 2028.
• Deposits are fully refundable, according to the agreement, and reservations are non-transferable.
• Unlike the Cybertruck Foundation Series and Model S Signature Edition, there is no clause banning resale of the finished car.

The money involved is not small. Our reveal coverage detailed the $5,000-plus-$45,000 structure for the Performance version, and InsideEVs says reservation holders may have to put up as much as $250,000.

Our take

Wording like this is common in pre-order contracts for products that do not exist yet, and the refund promise is the part that really matters. But context counts. The previous Roadster was unveiled in 2017, took deposits of up to $250,000 for the Founders Series, and never reached customers, as The Drive points out. Range has also shrunk on paper since then, from the 620 miles promised in 2017 to "over 300 miles" now.

So treat a Roadster deposit as money parked with Tesla that you can ask for back, not as a purchase. If you want an electric car you can actually drive in the next year, there are plenty of shipping options. Our home EV charger guide is a better place to start than a 2028 reservation.