Tesla Unveils Roadster With SpaceX Thrusters Capable of Hovering and Mid-Air Maneuvers, Production Set for 2028

Tesla has officially unveiled its long-awaited Roadster, a high-performance electric vehicle that uses SpaceX-inspired cold-gas thruster technology to hover, accelerate, and perform mid-air maneuvers. Elon Musk shared footage of the car launching over a lineup of Tesla vehicles and executing a barrel roll before landing, writing that "the future does have flying cars." Musk also called it the "only manually driven car that Tesla makes."

The Roadster will be offered in three trims. The base Performance model uses an active aerodynamic system and a suction-based downforce setup but does not include thrusters, and requires a $50,000 reservation deposit. The limited Thrust model adds SpaceX-inspired thrusters and is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under one second, with one source citing a figure of 0.81 seconds, while also being capable of stabilizing the vehicle airborne. The top-tier Rocket model, which uses thrusters positioned around the car to enable forward, upward and rotational movement, is not approved for public-road use. Tesla also introduced a multi-mode suction system that pulls air from beneath the car, claiming it generates enough downforce to hold the Roadster upside down even while stationary.

Tesla is targeting more than 300 miles of range and steer-by-wire controls across trims. Production is not expected to begin until 2028, placing it eight years past the original 2017 delivery target. Seeking Alpha noted the delay weighs on Tesla's valuation, with a PEG ratio of 11.08 versus traditional auto multiples, and assigned a Hold rating, questioning whether the Roadster is a catalyst or a distraction given heavy capital commitments and near-term returns dependent on core EV margins.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly praised the unveiling, saying the Roadster "looks quite amazing" and congratulating Musk. Separately, Polymarket odds for a Tesla Optimus humanoid robot release by year-end rose five percentage points following the Roadster event, reaching 12%. Drivers of the thruster-equipped trims may face additional regulatory requirements, with reports suggesting some owners could need a pilot's license to legally operate the flight-capable features.