Tesla is warning guests at its October 1st that the highly anticipated show could be delayed again, this time due to weather. In an email to attendees, Tesla said the event “must be held outdoors” and may need to be rescheduled. The forecast for central Texas on Thursday shows an 82 percent, with thunderstorms expected.
See also: Newly discovered asteroid is actually a Tesla Roadster
The email, titled "Important: Roadster Event Weather," was shared by one of the invitees.
Tesla is looking forward to hosting guests on October 1, 2026, while noting that “there is a possibility that we may need to reschedule due to weather.” According to Tesla, the event “includes a unique experience that must be held outdoors,” and the company “continues to monitor weather reports.” No alternative date is mentioned in the email, only a promise to “communicate with additional details as soon as possible.”
Tesla had previewed the Oct. 1 unveiling earlier this month with a “Go for launch” image. The centerpiece of the event is a hovering demonstration using a SpaceX-developed cold gas pack, codenamed A71, at SpaceX’s rocket test site in McGregor, Texas, just outside Waco. The car is expected to be operated remotely with no one inside, and spectators will be kept several hundred feet away due to the loud noise of the thrusters.
Forecast data from Open-Meteo for McGregor shows an 82% chance of precipitation on Thursday, October 1, with thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 32 mph.
See also: Tesla files new trademarks for Roadster ahead of launch
The forecast for Friday is slightly better, with a 75% chance of rain and wind gusts around 13 mph. By Saturday, the chance of rain drops to 42%. Three-day forecasts can change, but storms and strong winds are not ideal conditions for a public hovering demonstration. Tesla showed off the prototype of its next-generation Roadster in November 2017 and promised production in 2020.
The schedule has been pushed back at least eight times since then. The demonstration has been postponed multiple times. Musk said last October that a demonstration would take place by the end of 2025, but it was later pushed back to April 1, 2026, with production pushed back to 2027 or 2028.
The timeline has since been pushed to “maybe in a month or so,” then August, and now October 1. Reservation holders paid $50,000 for a standard Roadster and $250,000 for the Founders Series. Nearly nine years later, no one has received a car. While this would be the twelfth delay in nine years, this particular postponement is not Musk’s fault, as Tesla can’t control the storms in Texas.
If the forecast holds true, postponing a remote-controlled hover demonstration with an audience nearby is the responsible decision. This situation highlights the challenges facing the Roadster program, where the biggest risk to the launch event is adverse weather conditions. A car that is ready to be marketed doesn’t require clear skies for a demonstration, but a demonstration involving SpaceX equipment does.
See also: Tesla is expected to reveal the new Tesla Roadster after years
If Tesla has to postpone the event, it's expected to be a matter of days, not months. The big question remains what will be unveiled when it finally happens: a production-intent car with final specs, price, and delivery date, or yet another impressive video that redefines expectations?
