Indians Can Now Book a Flying Tesla Roadster at ₹5 lakh
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Tesla has opened reservations for its redesigned Roadster electric sports car in India, but buyers face a long wait, with production expected to begin in 2028 and the final launch and delivery timelines yet to be confirmed.
Tesla's Indian reservation website lists the Performance and Thrust versions for booking. Buyers must pay an initial reservation amount of ₹5.01 lakh, followed by an additional payment within 10 days.
Unveiled by Tesla chief executive Elon Musk in Texas on October 15, the next-generation Roadster features SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters that can propel the vehicle into the air for brief manoeuvres. The demonstration showed the car lifting off, rotating mid-air and landing back on its wheels.
The vehicle is being offered in three configurations — Performance, Thrust and Rocket — with different features, seating arrangements and reservation amounts.
Tesla Roadster: Reservation Amount in India
Tesla's Indian reservation website lists the Performance and Thrust versions for booking. Buyers must pay an initial reservation amount, followed by an additional payment within 10 days.
The listed reservation amounts are:
- Performance: ₹50.06 lakh in total, including the initial payment.
- Thrust: Approximately ₹2.50 crore in total, including the initial payment.
- Rocket: Available by invitation only, with pricing not specified in the available details.
These amounts represent reservation payments, not confirmed final vehicle prices. Tesla has yet to announce the Roadster's final pricing or a confirmed delivery schedule for India.
Three Tesla Roadster Variants Explained
Performance: Road and Track Driving
The Performance version is designed for road and track use and seats two people. It features active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system intended to increase downforce and improve grip.
Tesla says the system can generate enough suction to hold the car upside down under specific conditions. The production model's final specifications remain to be confirmed.
Thrust: Acceleration Boost
The Thrust version adds cold-gas acceleration thrusters to the Performance package. It retains two seats and is positioned as a race-ready configuration.
Tesla claims the car can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in less than a second. The company has not yet confirmed all final production specifications.
Rocket: A Single-Seater With Flying Capabilities
The Rocket is the most advanced configuration, featuring a full flight system and cold-gas thrusters positioned around the vehicle. It has seating for one and is available by invitation only.
During the unveiling, the car demonstrated brief airborne manoeuvres, including mid-air rotation. However, the ability to lift off during a demonstration does not establish that the vehicle can operate as a conventional flying car on public roads. Its flight capabilities also face regulatory and safety questions.
When Will the Tesla Roadster Launch?
Tesla expects to begin production in 2028, nearly a decade after the second-generation Roadster was first unveiled in 2017. The model has faced repeated delays since its original announcement.
The latest demonstration offers a glimpse of the company's ambitions for electric sports cars, combining high-speed performance with technology developed by SpaceX. However, the specifications and capabilities shown during the presentation will need to be assessed against the final production model.
For Indian buyers, reservations being open does not mean deliveries are imminent. Tesla has not confirmed an India launch date or delivery schedule, and the Rocket version's public-road status remains unresolved.
