It’s been six years since the new Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) Roadster was announced. Originally slated for a 2021 release, the car that Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised to be the fastest production car ever made with an astonishing 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds, has yet to have a new release date.
Understandably, people who reserved the vehicle are getting anxious. One customer, as @TalesFromTheFuture points out on X, is saying he’s never gotten even a single email since he paid a whopping $250,000 to reserve a Founder’s Series version of the Roadster.
Tesla customers getting musked, Roadster 2 edition:
— TalesFromTheFuture (@talesftf) December 9, 2023
“I paid $250,000 a little over 6 years ago to the day, for a 2020 Roadster Founder's Series reservation”
Ouch. $TSLA $TSLAQhttps://t.co/CiZjDowVKd
PS: TMC is a forum for Tesla fans. Even this hardcore group had enough now. pic.twitter.com/q4iucVNTg2
And he’s not alone, many on the Tesla Motors Club forum either want their money back or are finding ways for legal retribution over the long — and yet still indefinite — delay.
Just look at the top thread titles in the TMC forum for the Roadster2. Unhappy reservation holders venting… from how to cancel an order to taking Tesla to court. 🍿 $TSLA $TSLAQhttps://t.co/1MRFYkrlia pic.twitter.com/6xG8Jn7lGe
— TalesFromTheFuture (@talesftf) December 9, 2023
There’s not much customers can do, really, other than to hold their faith or to just pull out.
According to the terms and conditions of the Roadster reservation, customers can cancel their reservation for any reason and receive a full refund of their reservation payment, “until you enter into the Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement.”
The agreement also prevents customers from suing the carmaker for claims, instead forcing them to agree for any dispute to be decided by an arbitrator, “rather than by a judge or jury in court.”
In May, a month after the Tesla Master Plan Part 3 was revealed with the Roadster absent, Musk told Ford CEO Jim Farley on a Twitter Spaces event that they would begin production by the end of 2024 — that is if nothing bad happens.
“We are certainly testing the patience of our reservation holders,” he also said.
Information for this story was found via X, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.