Tesla Pushes Roadster Hover Demo to October 15, Citing Texas Weather

Tesla has moved its long-awaited Roadster demonstration back by two weeks, shifting the event from October 1 to October 15. In a short statement, the company said it had been monitoring forecasts with local meteorologists and decided to reschedule because the showcase must be held outdoors and “severe conditions” were expected in central Texas. Additional logistics, Tesla added, would be shared closer to the new date.

The venue is expected to be SpaceX’s rocket test facility in McGregor, Texas, near Waco. According to earlier reporting, the plan is to make the next-generation Roadster hover using a cold gas thruster system developed by SpaceX, with the car operating remotely and spectators positioned several hundred yards away.

Forecast data for the original date did show heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong gusts in the area, but conditions were projected to clear within days. That has raised questions about whether weather alone explains a full two-week buffer, especially for a vehicle whose timeline has slipped repeatedly since its 2017 prototype debut. Production guidance still points to 2027 or 2028.

For reservation holders who placed deposits of $50,000 or more, the frustration is less about a single postponement and more about what the event actually offers: a remotely driven hover stunt rather than concrete specs, pricing and a delivery schedule for the electric sports car first shown nearly a decade ago.