Saturday 17 October 2026
Night Edition
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
Business

Elon Musk unveils Tesla Roadster 2 'flying car' with SpaceX thrusters

Prototype demonstrated at SpaceX facility, production set for 2028 at over $200,000

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Elon Musk has revealed the Tesla Roadster 2, which he claims will be the world's first flying car, using technology from his aerospace company SpaceX to 'basically fly like a rocket'. The billionaire demonstrated the sports car at the SpaceX rocket development facility in Texas, showing it driving upside down on a curved ramp, using thrusters to flip, fly and land, and leaping over a line of existing Tesla models before accelerating from 0 to 60mph in less than a second.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, Musk said: "Flying cars are real. It's got altitude controls, thrusters and main thrusters in the rear. So it can basically fly like a rocket, it can do rolls, crazy gymnastics." A video of the demonstration, which Musk said was controlled remotely 'to make sure we don't kill anyone', shows the Roadster performing these manoeuvres. Musk added the prototype was 'not necessarily a safety optimised car but it takes the fun meter to 11'.

The vehicle, confirmed as a two-seater, will go into production in 2028 and is priced in excess of $200,000 (£150,000). A Tesla reservation website for expressing interest showed that a 'performance' version would require a £50,000 deposit, while a 'thrust' version would require a $250,000 deposit. A one-seater 'rocket' variant with a 'full flight system' was labelled as available only by invitation. The car company noted that flying the Roadster 2 is not permitted on public roads.

Musk acknowledged the vehicle may face legal hurdles, saying: "I'm not sure it's necessarily legal in all jurisdictions." The reveal marks a shift from his 2014 comments expressing scepticism about a future with flying vehicles. Three years later he announced the development of the Roadster 2, aiming to create an electric sports car 'to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars'.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Roadster 2 pushes the boundaries of electric vehicle performance and personal transport, blending car and aerospace technology.
  • Regulatory and safety hurdles remain significant; flying cars may face bans or strict limits in most jurisdictions, limiting real-world use.
  • The high price point ($200,000+) and invitation-only 'rocket' variant suggest a niche luxury product rather than mass-market transport.

Background

Elon Musk first hinted at an updated Tesla Roadster in 2017, promising a 'hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars'. At the time, he expressed doubts about flying cars, citing safety and noise concerns. The new version integrates thrusters from SpaceX, reflecting Musk's broader strategy of cross-pollinating technology between his companies. The event was hosted at SpaceX's Texas facility, underscoring the aerospace connection.

Key Perspectives

Elon Musk / Tesla: The Roadster 2 is a showcase of engineering ambition and a 'fun' vehicle that demonstrates what is possible when car and rocket technology converge. Musk frames it as the world's first flying car, despite regulatory uncertainty. Regulators and safety experts: The vehicle's thrusters and flight capabilities raise serious safety, noise, and airspace integration questions. Musk's admission that the prototype is 'not necessarily safety optimised' and that flying is not allowed on public roads highlights the gap between demonstration and legal operation. Critics: Some observers point to Musk's own history of production delays and overpromising (e.g., the original Roadster, Cybertruck). The 2028 timeline, high deposits, and limited flight capability suggest a long road to any practical deployment.

What to Watch

  • Whether Tesla opens pre-orders for a wider audience or keeps the 'rocket' variant strictly invitation-only.
  • Regulatory reactions from the US Federal Aviation Administration and other transport authorities.
  • Progress on the 2028 production timeline and any safety modifications before customer deliveries.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workSubscribe