Demonstrated October 15, 2026 at SpaceX's rocket test site in McGregor, Texas, near Waco

Tesla Roadster flying carwhat's real, the price and the release date

Tesla revealed the second-generation Roadster on 15 Oct 2026 at SpaceX's McGregor, Texas test site, where unoccupied demo cars made short thruster-powered jumps, flips and an upside-down ramp run. It is still a prototype: there is no price, no regulatory approval for the flight features, and Musk says production starts in 2028.

Video from Tesla on YouTube. It loads only when you press play.

Real or fake?

Real demo, no price, nothing to fly yet.

The demonstration was real: physical Roadster prototypes climbed a curved ramp, hung upside down and made short thruster-powered jumps and flips at SpaceX's McGregor site in front of a live audience, and Snopes rated the videos true after checking clips posted by attendees. It was not a flying car in the everyday sense, because each airborne moment lasted only seconds, nobody was inside the car, and outlets including CNN and Snopes described hops rather than sustained flight. The headline numbers, including the 0.81-second 0-60 mph run, the 230+ mph top speed and the 80 kN thrust figure, are Tesla's own and have not been independently tested. It is also unproven that the cars customers eventually receive will match the demo cars; Tesla did not claim the stunt cars were production models, and SlashGear suggested they may have been lightened builds made for the stunts.

What Tesla showed, and what it didn't

Shown on October 15

  • Ramp run: the car climbed a curved, C-shaped ramp and hung upside down at the top, held by underbody suction fans
  • On a second ramp run it launched off the inverted section, rolled over in midair using cold-gas thrusters and landed on its wheels
  • A moving jump over a row of Tesla vehicles that included a Tesla Semi, Cybertruck and Cybercab, with a barrel roll before landing; Tesla said this jump reached 27 feet (8.2 m)
  • A flip from a standing start, with the car rising, turning over and descending under thruster control
  • A 0-60 mph sprint with rear thrusters firing, displayed at 0.81 seconds; Tesla also played a recorded test run showing about one second
  • Thruster hardware described on stage: 10 nozzles fed by about 158 gallons (600 liters) of compressed gas in rechargeable carbon-fiber overwrapped pressure vessels
  • The demo cars ran with no human driver aboard; Musk said this was to make sure nobody was killed, and attendees including Edmunds reported the car was remotely controlled
  • Reservations opened for three trims: Performance, Thrust and Rocket

Not shown

  • Sustained, hovering or long-distance flight; each airborne moment lasted a few seconds
  • A human driver or pilot aboard during any airborne stunt
  • Any flight away from the private SpaceX site or over a public road
  • Independent timing of the 0-60 mph run or any top-speed or range test
  • A price for any trim or a customer delivery date
  • A production-specification car; Tesla did not claim the demo cars were production models
  • Any regulatory approval for road use of the thrusters or for flight
  • A Snake River Canyon jump, which Musk mentioned only as something Tesla may try

The promised date keeps moving

Each row is a time Tesla or Musk gave a production date for the new Roadster, and the date promised. Production was first promised for 2020.

What Tesla claimed, checked

Only a couple of claims are confirmed by independent reporting. Every performance number is Tesla's own and hasn't been tested by anyone else.

  • "Turns out the future does have flying cars" (Musk); "Flying cars are real" (Moravy)

    Elon Musk and Lars Moravy (source)Said on stage

  • The Roadster accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under one second

    Lars Moravy (Tesla VP of vehicle engineering) (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • A thruster-assisted 0-60 mph run took 0.81 seconds

    Tesla (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • 0-60 mph by trim: Performance under 1.6 s, Thrust under 0.9 s, Rocket under 0.59 s

    Tesla (Roadster web page) (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • Top speed above 230 mph (370 km/h)

    Lars Moravy / Tesla (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • Top speed will be "definitely much faster" than 230 mph and should reach about half the speed of sound

    Elon Musk (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • Range of over 300 miles (480 km) per charge

    Lars Moravy / Tesla (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • 10 thrusters connected to 600 liters of compressed air lift and spin the car, and the tank can be recharged

    Lars Moravy (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • The car uses 10 nozzles and "ultra high-pressure air tanks" both to fly and to accelerate on the ground

    Elon Musk (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • The thruster system produces more than 80 kN of thrust

    Tesla (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • The thrusters produce 4 to 5 times the force the tires can

    Tesla (post on X) (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • The underbody fan suction system can pull up to 2 g, enough to hold the car upside down

    Lars Moravy (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • The car jumped 27 feet while doing a barrel roll

    Tesla (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • The demonstration was real and "not AI or SI", which is why a live audience was invited

    Elon Musk (source)Confirmed

  • The demo cars flew with nobody aboard

    Elon Musk; confirmed by attendees (source)Confirmed

  • Nobody was aboard "to make sure we don't kill anyone"

    Elon Musk (source)Said on stage

  • Production will begin in 2028

    Elon Musk (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • A flight-capable car will be sold to owners, though it may not be legal in all jurisdictions

    Elon Musk (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

  • Tesla may try to jump the Snake River Canyon

    Elon Musk (source)Tesla's claim, not tested

Price and reservations

Tesla gave no price for any trim at the 15 Oct 2026 reveal. The only base price Tesla has ever stated is $200,000, announced at the November 2017 unveil and later removed from its website.

You can reserve the non-flying Performance trim on Tesla's website ($5,000 at once, $45,000 within 10 days). Reports differ on whether the $250,000 Thrust trim is open to reservations, and the flight-capable Rocket trim is invitation-only. Nothing will be built before the stated 2028 production start.

  • Base price announced at $200,000; standard reservation $50,000 ($5,000 at once plus $45,000 within 10 days); deliveries promised for 2020
  • Founders Series announced at $250,000, paid in full to reserve, limited to the first 1,000 cars
  • Tesla removed Roadster pricing from its website and stopped taking Founders Series reservations; Tesla never said whether all 1,000 sold
  • Standard $50,000 reservation still offered ($5,000 plus $45,000 within 10 days), described as refundable until a purchase agreement is signed; no price listed
  • The Autopian reported refund friction: Tesla initially returned only the $45,000 wire of Marques Brownlee's $50,000 deposit before later returning the $5,000
  • Reservations reopened ahead of the reveal at $50,000 ($5,000 by card plus $45,000 by wire within 10 days), labeled fully refundable; still no price or delivery date
  • Three trims listed: Performance $50,000 deposit, Thrust $250,000 deposit, Rocket by invitation only; no price for any trim, with the final price to be set when a buyer is invited to configure
Show the full timeline (21 dates)
  • Second-generation Roadster unveiled at the end of the Tesla Semi event in Hawthorne, California, with claims of 0-60 mph in 1.9 s, 250+ mph (400 km/h) and 620 miles (1,000 km) of range; production promised for 2020
  • Musk describes a "SpaceX option package" of roughly 10 small cold-gas thrusters for acceleration, braking and cornering
  • Musk says production will come in the next 12 to 18 months
  • Production pushed to 2022
  • Production pushed to 2023
  • Tesla removes Roadster pricing and closes Founders Series reservations
  • Musk hopes engineering will finish by the end of 2023, with production in 2024
  • Musk says Tesla has raised the design goals, targets 0-60 mph under one second, and plans an unveil by the end of 2024 with shipping in 2025
  • Musk again says production will begin in 2025
  • On the Joe Rogan Experience Musk promises an "unforgettable" demo before the end of 2025 but will not confirm the car flies
  • At Tesla's shareholder meeting Musk sets the demo for 1 April 2026, with production about 12 to 18 months later
  • Musk recasts the April demo as an unveil and moves it to late April
  • Tesla and SpaceX staff reportedly show Musk an early demo of the thruster system, code-named A71
  • The Information reports the public demo has slipped to August or later
  • The Information reports the demo will be at SpaceX's McGregor test site, with the car remotely operated and spectators kept several hundred yards back
  • Tesla teaser shows the date 10.01
  • Reservations reopen at $50,000; an FAA temporary flight restriction up to 10,000 feet is placed around the McGregor area from 18 Sept to 2 Oct
  • Tesla postpones the 1 Oct reveal to 15 Oct, citing severe weather and saying the event can only be held outdoors
  • Reveal at SpaceX's McGregor site: unoccupied cars perform an inverted ramp run, thruster jumps and flips, and a 0.81 s 0-60 mph run; Musk says production starts in 2028
  • FAA tells CBS News and Politico the car does not meet its definition of an aircraft; the Transportation Department says Tesla must still meet federal vehicle safety standards and NHTSA will monitor
  • Stated start of production (Musk)

Specifications Tesla has stated

Type
Supercar with thrusters
Maker
Tesla (USA)
Seats
2 (the flight-capable Rocket trim has 1)
Takeoff
Not an aircraft: seconds-long thruster hops
Power
Battery-electric, plus SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters
Drives on roads
Yes
Top speed
Over 230 mph (370 km/h), Tesla claim from Oct 2026; some outlets report this figure for the Rocket trim only
Range
Over 300 miles (480 km), Tesla claim from Oct 2026 (no test cycle stated)
Also worth knowing
0-60 mph (97 km/h), Tesla claims: Performance under 1.6 s, Thrust under 0.9 s, Rocket under 0.59 s; a 0.81 s thruster-assisted run was shown at the reveal. Thrusters: 10 nozzles fed by about 158 gallons (600 liters) of compressed gas in carbon-fiber overwrapped tanks (Tesla's Lars Moravy). Underbody suction fans hold the car to a surface, rated by Moravy at up to 2 g. None of these figures has been independently tested.
First flight
15 Oct 2026 (public, uncrewed thruster hops lasting seconds); Tesla and SpaceX staff reportedly showed Musk an early version of the thruster system in late April 2026
Official site
tesla.com/roadster

Questions people ask

How much does the Tesla Roadster cost?

Tesla has not announced a price for the new Roadster. The last price Tesla stated was a $200,000 base price at the 2017 unveil. For now you can only pay a reservation deposit: $50,000 for the Performance trim or $250,000 for the Thrust trim, while the flight-capable Rocket trim is invitation-only.

When is the Tesla Roadster release date?

Elon Musk said at the 15 Oct 2026 reveal that production will start in 2028, and Tesla has given no customer delivery date. The car was first promised for 2020, and the date has slipped many times since, so treat 2028 as a target rather than a commitment.

Can the Tesla Roadster really fly?

Only in short bursts. At the reveal, unoccupied cars used cold-gas thrusters to jump over parked vehicles, flip in the air and land, with each airborne moment lasting a few seconds. No hovering or sustained flight was shown, and the FAA says the car does not meet its definition of an aircraft.

Is the flying Tesla Roadster real or fake?

The videos are real. The stunts were performed in front of a live audience at SpaceX's site in McGregor, Texas, and Snopes rated the footage true after checking attendee clips. What is not proven is how closely the production car will match the stunt cars, or any of Tesla's performance figures.

Do you need a pilot's license for the Tesla Roadster?

Probably not. The FAA told CBS News and Politico that the car does not meet its definition of an aircraft, so FAA pilot certificates do not appear to apply. The road-going trims would need a normal driver's license, and Tesla has not published any rules for the flight-capable Rocket trim, which it says is not approved for public roads.

Is the Tesla Roadster street legal?

Not yet, because no production car exists. Tesla calls the Performance trim road ready but says the Rocket trim with the full flight system is not approved for public roads, and its page says nothing about road use for the Thrust trim's rear thrusters. NHTSA's parent department said Tesla must make sure the car meets federal safety standards, and Musk admitted it may not be legal in every jurisdiction.

How does the Tesla Roadster fly?

It uses cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX instead of wings or rotors. Tesla says 10 nozzles release compressed gas from about 158 gallons (600 liters) of carbon-fiber tanks to lift, spin and slow the car, and the tanks can be refilled. Separate underbody fans create suction that let the car hang upside down on the ramp.

How do you reserve a Tesla Roadster?

Reservations are made on Tesla's Roadster web page. The Performance trim needs $5,000 by card at once and another $45,000 within 10 days, the Thrust trim needs $250,000, and the Rocket trim is invitation-only. Tesla clearly labels only the first $5,000 as fully refundable, so read the reservation terms before paying, since past buyers have reported slow refunds.

Sources

  1. TechCrunch: Tesla reveals SpaceX-powered Roadster that flies and falls with style (October 15, 2026)
  2. Reuters (via Yahoo Finance): Tesla's new Roadster turns in air with SpaceX thrusters, won't land until 2028 (October 16, 2026)
  3. CNN: Tesla unveils what it says is a flying car, called the Roadster (October 15, 2026)
  4. CBS News: With Tesla Roadster debut, Elon Musk shows "flying cars are real" (October 16, 2026)
  5. CBS News: We asked the DOT who would oversee a flying car like Tesla's Roadster. The answer isn't readily clear. (October 16, 2026)
  6. NBC News: Elon Musk shows off 'flying' Tesla Roadster after years of delays (October 16, 2026)
  7. Politico (via Yahoo News): FAA: Musk's flying car not our responsibility (October 16, 2026)
  8. Electrek: Tesla unveils Cyberfied new Roadster that can kickflip (October 15, 2026)
  9. Fox Business: Tesla's new Roadster takes flight during dramatic unveiling at SpaceX facility (October 15, 2026)
  10. Snopes (via Yahoo Autos): Fact Check: Real videos show Tesla's new 'flying' car performing mid-air stunts (October 16, 2026)
  11. SlashGear: Was The Tesla Roadster Flip Real, Or An AI-Generated Stunt? (October 16, 2026)
  12. Road & Track (via Yahoo Autos): Watch the Tesla Roadster's 3 Wildest Stunts (October 16, 2026)
  13. UPI (via Yahoo Autos): Tesla showcases 'flying' car in Roadster 2 demonstration (October 16, 2026)
  14. Edmunds: I Went to the Tesla Roadster Reveal. It Was Weird. And Wild (October 2026)
  15. Paul Tan's Automotive News: Tesla Roadster revealed, flies on SpaceX air thrusters, 0-96 km/h in 0.81s, production 2028 (October 16, 2026)
  16. EVXL: Tesla Roadster Kickflips Over a Semi, Then Asks $50,000 With No Price (October 16, 2026)
  17. Engadget: Relive Tesla's ridiculous(ly fun) Roadster stunt show (October 15, 2026)
  18. Euronews: 'Well, it worked': Elon Musk unveils new Tesla Roadster that can fly (October 16, 2026)
  19. Deseret News: Tesla shows off a flying car. The internet takes it from there (October 16, 2026)
  20. Newsweek: Elon Musk Touts 'Flying Cars' as Video of Tesla Roadster Takes Off Online (October 15, 2026)
  21. TechCrunch: Tesla delays Roadster 2 event again due to bad weather (September 28, 2026)
  22. TeslaNorth: Tesla Locks Down Airspace Ahead of Waco Roadster Reveal (September 19, 2026)
  23. TeslaNorth: Tesla Reopens Roadster Reservations With $50,000 Deposit (September 18, 2026)
  24. Electrek: Tesla Roadster October 1 reveal teaser (September 12, 2026)
  25. Electrek: Tesla flying Roadster demo this month, no driver (citing The Information) (August 14, 2026)
  26. Electrek: Tesla pushes Roadster demo to August as SpaceX thruster work continues (June 5, 2026)
  27. Drive Tesla Canada: Tesla Pushes Roadster Unveil and Demo to April 2026 (November 6, 2025)
  28. Axios: Tesla flying car? Elon Musk teases "unforgettable" demo (November 5, 2025)
  29. The Autopian: Good Luck Trying To Get Your Entire Tesla Roadster Deposit Back (September 29, 2025)
  30. Fortune: Elon Musk on Tesla Roadster unveiling, acceleration and production (February 28, 2024)
  31. Fox Business: Tesla is taking $50,000 deposits on the Roadster (April 12, 2022)
  32. Electrek: Tesla removes new Roadster pricing, appears to have sold out $250,000 Founders series (December 20, 2021)
  33. Fortune: Musk says Tesla Roadster will get SpaceX rocket thrusters (June 10, 2018)
  34. Fortune: Tesla's surprise $200,000 Roadster (November 17, 2017)
  35. Wikipedia: Tesla Roadster (second generation), delay chronology 2020-2024 (October 17, 2026)

Last checked October 17, 2026. We update this page as Tesla confirms details. AllFlyingCars is independent and not affiliated with Tesla.

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