Tesla buyers slam last-minute cancellation of Model S/X ‘Signature’ delivery event
Tesla has been criticised after pulling the plug on a special delivery event for its Model S and Model X ‘Signature Edition’ cars just three days before it was scheduled to take place.
The invitation-only event on May 12 at Tesla’s soon-to-be-repurposed Fairmont factory, was supposed to see invitees who purchased the final edition Signature Edition Model S and Model X collect their cars. This ultra-limited run was introduced to mark the end of both models’ production.
Just 250 of the Model S Signature Edition were said to have been produced, while the Model X version would prove even more exclusive with a reported 100 units.
Yet at the 11th hour, the Elon Musk-owned carmaker sent out a two sentence email, reading: “The Signature Edition Delivery Event scheduled for May 12, 2026, has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
What happens next?
Nothing, really. Buyers who forked out $159,420 for either car won’t be receiving their purchase any time soon. No reason was given for cancelling this “invite-only celebration of the first of the last deliveries of Model S and Model X Signature Edition — ever”. No rescheduled date for the Tesla Signature Event was given, either.
The lack of information provoked a backlash amongst attendees, who fired back saying “Spent thousands on this trip… @Tesla” and requested that Tesla “compensate owners or hold the event on the originally planned date”.
Tesla has form here…
This isn’t the first time that Tesla has pulled the plug on an scheduled event at the last minute. When it was preparing to deliver the first Model S Plaid in 2021, it was delayed by more than a week, with Musk quoted as saying the 1,000bhp super saloon needed “one more week of tweak”.
The unveil of the Robotaxi was pushed back from August to October 2024, to allow the company to build more prototypes.
The EV Powered take on the Tesla Signature event cancellation
On a broader scale, Tesla Signaturegate marks yet another case of Tesla treating its customers with a lack of regard. Those who paid $159,420 for their car were also subject to a no-resale agreement, with a $50,000 penalty.
Moreover, since 2017, Musk has been promising a new version of the groundbreaking Tesla Roadster, with the latest arrival date quoted as April 2026. In March this year, he wrote: “New Roadster unveil hopefully next month. It will be a banger next-level” on X.
Despite the production date being moved several times from 2020 to-date, Tesla has still managed to attract multiple deposits for the new Roadster, ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for the Founders’ Series cars.
Unsurprisingly, those who put money down have reportedly grown increasingly annoyed with the delays and have encountered a raft of difficulties in getting their money refunded after almost a decade of waiting and empty promises. The Signature event is another controversy in Tesla’s recent history. Like the company’s future as a carmaker, as to what happens next is anyone’s guess.
