Tesla unveils Roadster that can fly: production planned for 2028

Tesla introduced a new generation electric Roadster with rocket thrusters developed with SpaceX. The demonstration took place in Texas: the car lifted off the ground and performed a stunt in the air. Börsen-Zeitung reports on the presentation; earlier, Inkorr discussed Tesla electric vehicles in Ukraine.

How the Tesla Roadster performed at the presentation

Do a kickflip! https://t.co/DJ1Bq1yu8m

— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026

During the demonstration in Waco, the car lifted off the ground using rocket nozzles and performed a flip over other cars. On the test track, it accelerated from a standstill to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds.

At the same time, Tesla claims that the standard version of the Roadster without thrusters will reach this speed in 1.9 seconds. Other claimed specifications include:

• top speed — over 230 mph;

• range — over 300 miles on a single charge;

• serial production expected to start in 2028.

These figures should be viewed as manufacturer specifications for now: the production version has not yet entered production. Previous materials on demand for electric vehicles also noted Tesla among the popular brands in the Ukrainian market.

How much does it cost to reserve a Tesla Roadster?

Tesla has opened applications for the vehicle, but the final price has not yet been announced. A deposit of 50,000 euros is required for the base Performance package. Reserving the version with rocket thrusters costs 250,000 euros: 5,000 is paid upfront, and the rest within ten days.

The Rocket modification will only be available by special invitation. Due to safety requirements, flights on public roads are not allowed, so this version is planned to be sold in limited countries.

For inverted motion, the Roadster is equipped with a surface adhesion system. During the presentation, it held the car on an inclined ramp. Elon Musk described the car's capabilities as: «It can fly like a rocket. It can do flips, perform incredible stunts».

Tesla's management also stated that the Roadster will be the last model with a steering wheel: in the future, the manufacturer plans to focus on autonomous platforms. Inkorr also mentioned Tesla Roadster in a list of vehicles that may be subject to transportation tax in Ukraine.