Tesla Roadster reservations listed in Malaysia: RM203,000 for Performance, RM1.009 million for Thrust

KUALA LUMPUR: Tesla’s Malaysian website now lists reservation payments for the Roadster, and the amounts alone are enough to get your attention.

Securing a Roadster Performance requires RM203,000, while the thruster-equipped Thrust version calls for RM1.009 million.

Those figures are reservation payments, not the cars’ selling prices. Tesla has yet to state a Malaysian purchase price or delivery date on the pages.

Also Read: Tesla opens Mid Valley Experience Centre, its seventh location in Malaysia

The updated website also describes a rather different Roadster from the four-seat electric sports car many will remember. There are now two-seat Performance and Thrust configurations, plus a single-seat, invitation-only Rocket version that Tesla claims can fly.

There is a fairly significant detail for Malaysian buyers, too: Tesla specifies left-hand drive only, with availability subject to regional laws, and when we questioned Tesla Malaysia about this, they did say that it will be a left-hand drive car only. 

Tesla Roadster reservation payments in Malaysia

Both selectable versions require an initial RM21,000 credit-card payment. The remaining reservation amount must then be paid by bank transfer within 10 days.

Version	Initial credit-card payment	Subsequent bank transfer	Total reservation payment
Roadster Performance	RM21,000	RM182,000	RM203,000
Roadster Thrust	RM21,000	RM988,000	RM1,009,000

 

Tesla states that a reservation is not final until it receives the bank-transfer payment. Its disclaimer also says reservations may be cancelled if payment is not completed within 10 days.

The Rocket version is marked as invitation only, with no reservation amount listed.

Performance gets two seats and suction-generated downforce

The Roadster Performance is described as the road-focused configuration, with seating for two, active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system.

The latter is a large part of the new Roadster’s engineering pitch. Tesla describes a powered fan and ground-sealing arrangement that extracts air from beneath the vehicle to generate downforce.

In practical terms, the idea is to help press the car against the road without relying solely on airflow building as speed increases. Tesla makes the particularly bold claim that the system can generate enough suction to hold the vehicle upside down, even while stationary.

Tesla also describes active wings, steer-by-wire and a Track Mode that lowers the car and changes the suspension setup. High-downforce and low-drag modes are mentioned, although the accompanying footnotes mean buyers should not assume every advertised capability comes with the standard Performance configuration.

Thrust adds cold-gas thrusters and a sub-one-second acceleration claim

The limited-release Thrust configuration keeps two seats but adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters alongside the suction system.

Tesla claims this arrangement can propel the Roadster from 0–100 km/h in under one second (well they did it in 0.8 secs during the global reveal).

That is the manufacturer’s stated performance claim. The reservation and product pages do not provide independent test results or a detailed explanation of the conditions used to achieve it.

It also explains why the distinction between versions matters. Tesla’s fine print says the features and specifications shown on the page relate to the optional Thrust upgrade, while certain capabilities are reserved for Rocket.

The headline acceleration figure should therefore not be presented as the performance of every new Roadster.

Rocket is a single-seater—and is not approved for public roads

The Rocket configuration takes the concept further, with one seat and cold-gas thrusters positioned around the vehicle.

According to Tesla, these support forward and upward acceleration, as well as rotational movement. The company also describes rapid thruster adjustments intended to stabilise the vehicle in flight.

However, Tesla explicitly states that Rocket is not approved for public-road use. It is offered by invitation only, and availability is restricted by region.

So while flight capability is easily the most attention-grabbing claim on the website, it should not be read as a feature Malaysian customers can simply order and use on their daily commute.

A revised cabin and lightweight materials

The design descriptions include concealed headlights, a full-width rear light, flush aerodynamic elements and thin-spoke wheels.

Inside, Tesla lists a white cabin with grey microsuede detailing, microsuede seat bolsters, a steering yoke developed for steer-by-wire, a central touchscreen and two smaller displays ahead of the occupants.

Weight reduction is another focus. The company describes a fixed seating position and manual controls, together with magnesium, titanium and carbon-fibre components.

Malaysian webpage, but local delivery details remain unconfirmed

The Malaysian reservation amounts give interested buyers a clearer idea of the upfront commitment. They do not, on their own, confirm a local launch schedule or Malaysian road approval.

Beyond the left-hand-drive restriction, the pages do not provide a complete specification sheet covering battery capacity, motor output, charging performance or vehicle weight. A Malaysian selling price and delivery timetable are also absent.

For now, the concrete numbers are the reservation payments: RM203,000 for Performance and RM1.009 million for Thrust. How much buyers will eventually pay for the finished car—and when they will receive it—remains unanswered.