Elon Musk Unveils Flying Tesla Roadster With SpaceX Thrusters, Production Targeted for 2028

Elon Musk has unveiled Tesla’s redesigned Roadster, an electric sports car featuring SpaceX-inspired thrusters capable of lifting the vehicle into the air and performing aerial manoeuvres. According to Reuters, the demonstration took place on October 15, 2026, at a facility in McGregor, Texas, nearly nine years after Tesla first revealed plans for the next-generation Roadster. The prototype performed a series of dramatic stunts, including driving upside down along a curved ramp, executing a mid-air rotation and landing back on the ground. The demonstration combined technology from Tesla’s automotive division with aerospace engineering developed in collaboration with SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, positioning the Roadster as an ambitious showcase of the billionaire entrepreneur’s cross-industry vision.

The vehicle’s performance claims are equally striking. Tesla demonstrated acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour in under one second with the thruster system engaged, while reported specifications include a top speed exceeding 230 miles per hour for the specialised Rocket version. According to Euronews, Tesla engineering vice-president Lars Moravy explained that a suction system beneath the vehicle helps it remain attached to a curved surface during inverted driving, while the thrusters provide the propulsion for aerial movements. However, the flying capabilities are associated with a specialised configuration rather than a conventional road-going electric car. Musk acknowledged uncertainty about whether the vehicle’s most extraordinary features would be legal in every jurisdiction, highlighting the regulatory challenges of bringing rocket-assisted automotive technology to public roads.

Despite the spectacle, commercial delivery remains some distance away, with Tesla targeting production in 2028. The Roadster has experienced repeated delays since its original unveiling in 2017, leaving early reservation holders waiting years for the promised vehicle. Reuters reported that Musk has also downplayed the model’s likely financial contribution to Tesla, describing it as a relatively small opportunity compared with the company’s broader business priorities. Nevertheless, the unveiling gives Tesla a high-profile performance vehicle at a time when the company is expanding its focus on autonomous driving, robotics and artificial intelligence. Whether the Roadster’s thruster technology reaches production in a practical, road-legal form remains uncertain, but the demonstration underscores Tesla’s ambition to push electric vehicle engineering beyond conventional limits.