Tesla Points to October 1 Debut for Long-Delayed Roadster

Sept 12 (Reuters) - Tesla published a countdown on its website on Saturday that points to an October 1 launch for the Roadster, nearly ten years after the electric-vehicle maker first showed a next-generation version of its original sports car.

On social media platform X, Tesla shared the phrase “Go for launch” alongside a graphic displaying the date “10.01.”

In August, The Information reported that Tesla planned to unveil a redesigned Roadster as early as that month.

The report said the event could include a demonstration of a limited-edition version fitted with cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX, with the demonstration expected to take place at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas.

Tesla first unveiled the next-generation Roadster in 2017 and said deliveries would begin in 2020, but the program has faced repeated delays.

The development comes after the electric-vehicle maker last week began offering rides in its two-seater Cybercab, which has no steering wheel or pedals, in limited areas of Austin, Texas. Musk has described the vehicle as key to transforming Tesla into a dominant force in driverless vehicles.