Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled a redesigned Roadster electric sports car capable of performing brief airborne manoeuvres using rocket-style thrusters developed with SpaceX, putting a new spin on his long-running vision of flying cars.
The vehicle was demonstrated at a SpaceX testing facility in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday, 15 October.
During the event, the two-seater drove up a curved ramp, flipped through the air and landed, with a later demonstration showing it jumping over other vehicles.
However, the display did not demonstrate sustained or long-distance flight, and the vehicle’s ability to operate as a practical flying car remains uncertain.
Reuters reported that Tesla plans to begin production of the redesigned Roadster in 2028, more than a decade after the company first announced its next-generation electric sports car.
The new Roadster combines an electric sports-car platform with technology developed in collaboration with SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company.
Its thrusters are designed to propel the vehicle into the air for short manoeuvres.
Footage from the demonstration showed the Roadster travelling up a curved ramp and using a suction system to grip the surface while upside down, before firing its thrusters to flip through the air and land.
Musk described the concept as a flying car during the event, saying it had altitude controls and thrusters that allowed it to perform aerial manoeuvres.
‘Flying cars are real,’ Musk said, according to The Guardian.
The demonstration was remotely controlled, with Musk indicating that this was done to avoid putting anyone at risk.
The vehicle’s performance in a controlled testing environment does not, however, establish how it would function in ordinary road or flight conditions.
Tesla has promoted the Roadster as a high-performance electric vehicle, with the latest demonstration adding brief airborne capability to its advertised specifications.
The car is claimed to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour (approximately 97km/h) in less than one second and reach a top speed exceeding 370km/h.
The vehicle is also advertised with a driving range of around 480km on a single charge. These figures are company claims and will need to be assessed against the final production model.
The Roadster uses cold-gas thrusters and a multi-mode suction system to perform short jumps and mid-air spins.
Tesla has indicated that production of the redesigned Roadster is planned for 2028. The company has not yet provided a confirmed delivery schedule for customers.
The model has been a long-running project, as Tesla first revealed a next-generation Roadster in 2017, but production plans have repeatedly been delayed.
The latest announcement therefore represents a new milestone for the vehicle, rather than confirmation that customers will soon be able to buy and fly one.
Reuters reported that Tesla’s reservation options include a Performance version requiring a US$50 000 deposit and a Thrust version requiring a US$250 000 deposit.
A separate Rocket version, described as having a full flight system, is available by invitation.
The reservation information also states that flying the vehicle is not permitted on public roads.
Although the demonstration showed the Roadster briefly leaving the ground, it did not establish that the car can fly over long distances or travel between destinations like an aircraft.
Musk himself acknowledged that the vehicle might not be legal in every jurisdiction, as its potential use would depend on further engineering development, safety testing and regulatory requirements.
The Guardian noted that the vehicle was presented as a high-performance concept, with the practical implications of its flight system still unresolved.
Watch the video below for a closer look at Tesla’s new flying Roadster and its airborne demonstration.
https://t.co/KBWjjWknXe
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 16, 2026
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Picture: Screenshot via video
