Tesla has stated to next-generation Roadster reservation holders that it cannot guarantee delivery of the vehicle itself.

On Oct. 16 local time, electric vehicle outlet InsideEVs reported that Tesla tells customers in its Roadster reservation contract that development is still under way and it cannot commit to the actual delivery date or whether delivery will occur.

The wording was confirmed shortly after Tesla re-unveiled the Roadster following nearly 10 years of development. The new Roadster highlights high-performance specifications and a so-called fighter-jet-inspired cockpit concept, but uncertainty for buyers remains high at the reservation stage.

In the contract, Tesla wrote that the "Roadster is still in development" and that it "cannot guarantee when the vehicle will actually be delivered, or whether it will be delivered." It also drew a line by stating that "this agreement is only a reservation and is not an order that confirms receipt of a vehicle." Reservation holders must pay up to $250,000 in advance, but what they secure is not a guarantee of a car. It is an "approximate place in line" that applies if Tesla enters mass production.

The price is also not confirmed. Tesla said any purchase price presented in the contract is only an estimate. It added that it cannot confirm an exact price now because options, features and hardware configuration are still being adjusted, and that the final purchase price will be confirmed after the vehicle configuration is completed. Details presented at the reveal event may also change up to the launch.

A target launch date was presented as 2028. Based on the current contract structure, Tesla is closer to keeping the schedule, specifications and price flexible while taking reservations first. Since there are people who have kept reservations since 2017, further delays through actual delivery cannot be ruled out. InsideEVs reported that reservation holders can receive a full refund if they change their mind or if Tesla is unable to deliver the vehicle.

The contract terms also do not include a resale restriction clause. Tesla previously placed resale restrictions in order contracts for some limited models, but there is no such clause in this Roadster reservation contract. Instead, the reservation rights are bound as non-transferable so they cannot be handed over to another person.

Ultimately, this Roadster reservation is closer to a priority place in line for a project under development than securing a new car. Tesla has again put forward performance claims and a launch blueprint for the next-generation Roadster, but from the consumer's perspective the structure requires accepting significant uncertainty until delivery, price and final specifications are confirmed.