Flying cars? Tesla's new Roadster hops and hovers on SpaceX thrusters; production in 2028
Representative image: Larisa-K / Pixabay
Tesla unveiled its delayed Roadster in Texas on October 15, 2026, showing a remotely operated car hovering on compressed-gas thrusters; Elon Musk said production starts in 2028.
What Happened
Flying cars moved a step from science fiction to showroom pitch on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when Tesla unveiled its long-delayed Roadster at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas. The electric sports car performed what Tesla calls "short-burst flight": using cold, compressed-gas thrusters of the kind SpaceX uses on some rockets, it lifted off the ground, hopped and hovered over parked cars and a truck before landing. In one demonstration it ran up a curved ramp, flipped in mid-air and hovered. The car was operated remotely for the show. Chief executive Elon Musk said production will begin in 2028. Tesla did not announce a final price.
Key Facts
- Reveal: October 15, 2026, at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas.
- Flight feature: "short-burst flight" using cold, compressed-gas thrusters; the demonstration car was remotely operated.
- Versions: Performance (two-seater, 0-60 mph claimed under 1.6 seconds), Thrust (rear thrusters, under 0.9 seconds) and Rocket (single-seater with extra thrusters for lift-off, under 0.59 seconds).
- Claimed top speed above 230 mph and range above 300 miles.
- Production start: 2028, according to Musk.
- Price: not announced; reported reservation amounts include $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust, with Rocket by invitation only.
- The Roadster was first previewed in 2017 with a planned base price of $200,000, which was later dropped from Tesla's website.
Why It Matters
The Roadster was first previewed in 2017 and then missed a series of promised dates. Thursday's reveal finally put a design, a set of performance claims and a production year on the table, and it did so with a stunt few car makers would attempt: a road car that can briefly leave the road.
The idea of a car that hops on thrusters is a sign of how closely Musk's companies now share technology. The thrusters are cold-gas systems that release compressed gas to create thrust. Bringing that rocket-industry hardware into a consumer vehicle is novel, but it raises hard questions about safety, noise, cost and regulation. Some observers have pointed out that a car capable of leaving the ground could need approval from aviation authorities in the United States, and that Tesla has not explained how that would work.
Scepticism is also rooted in history. Commentators noted that none of the 2017 figures, such as price, battery capacity or confirmed range, has been updated with official production numbers. The flight shown on Thursday was brief and remote-controlled, a long way from a car that owners could use on public streets. One analysis also noted that a low-volume, very expensive sports car is unlikely to make a material difference to Tesla's finances, even if it draws attention.
For Indian readers following electric vehicles, the reveal is a glimpse of where the most expensive end of the market is experimenting: cars that borrow hardware from aerospace and are sold as much on spectacle as on practicality. Tesla has said nothing about selling the Roadster in India.
| Tesla Roadster versions | Claimed 0-60 mph |
|---|---|
| Performance | Under 1.6 seconds |
| Thrust | Under 0.9 seconds |
| Rocket | Under 0.59 seconds |
Impact
Short-term: The demonstration has put the Roadster and the idea of flying cars back in the headlines and opened reservations, but buyers face a wait of at least two years and no confirmed price.
Long-term: If Tesla delivers a road car with even limited hop-and-hover ability, it could push regulators to decide how to classify vehicles that briefly fly. If production slips again, the Roadster will remain a symbol of ambitious promises that run ahead of delivery.
Who is affected: Wealthy buyers and Tesla fans who reserve the car; regulators responsible for road and air safety; rival makers of high-performance electric cars; and Tesla investors watching how the company spends engineering effort.
Key Takeaway
Tesla's Roadster reveal showed a remotely operated car hopping on SpaceX-style thrusters, but with no price, no regulatory path for its flight feature and production not due until 2028, the flying car remains more promise than product.
Questions and Answers
Can the new Tesla Roadster really fly?
In a demonstration on October 15, 2026, the Roadster used cold, compressed-gas thrusters to lift off, hop and hover briefly before landing, a feature Tesla calls "short-burst flight." The car was operated remotely, and it is not a flying car for sustained flight.
When will the Tesla Roadster go into production?
Elon Musk said production will begin in 2028.
How much will the Roadster cost?
Tesla has not announced a final price. Reported reservation amounts include $50,000 for the Performance version and $250,000 for the Thrust version, while the Rocket version is invitation-only.
What are the three Roadster versions?
Performance is a two-seater with a claimed 0-60 mph time under 1.6 seconds, Thrust adds rear thrusters for under 0.9 seconds, and Rocket is a single-seater with extra thrusters for lift-off and a claimed time under 0.59 seconds.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
RuneScape Reignited cancelled by Jagex two weeks after reveal
Mueon, founded by ex-Intel engineers, raises $65 million for 3D AI computing blocks
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
