As of October 17, 2026: Tesla's new Roadster can briefly leave the ground: its top "Rocket" version fires cold-gas thrusters to hop, flip and land, and Tesla says production starts in 2028. Tesla showed the car on October 15, 2026, at a SpaceX test site in Texas. It climbed a ramp until it hung upside down, flipped off the end and jumped a row of parked Teslas. Here is what the "flying car" actually does, what it costs, when you could buy one, and why regulators and aviation experts are skeptical.
Want to feel what a thruster car does? Try our free 3D Flying Car Simulator. It is an independent game, not a model of Tesla's car, but it recreates the stunts: an upside-down twisting ramp, a midair roll on air jets, and hops over rows of parked cars.
What Tesla showed on October 15
The unveiling was livestreamed from a SpaceX facility in central Texas, nearly nine years after the first Roadster prototype. Reports from CNN, TechCrunch and CBS News describe three stunts:
- The upside-down ramp. The car drove up a ramp that curled over until it was upside down, held on by suction fans under the floor, then flew off the end.
- The midair flip. It rolled 180 degrees in the air and landed on its wheels, using air jets to steady itself.
- The jump. It used its thrusters to hop over a row of parked Tesla vehicles. The outlets list slightly different lineups; TechCrunch names a Cybercab, Cybertruck, Semi, Model Y and Model 3.
According to coverage of the event, Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy described the hardware as 10 thrusters fed by about 600 liters of compressed air. Because the thrusters use stored air rather than burning fuel, the jets look like white puffs, not flames.
The three Roadster versions
Tesla's Roadster page lists three configurations. The 0–60 mph times are Tesla's claims, not independent tests:
| Version | Seats | What it adds | Claimed 0–60 mph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2 | Active aerodynamics and a suction system for grip | Under 1.6 seconds |
| Thrust | 2 | Cold-gas thrusters at the rear for launches, for the track | Under 0.9 seconds |
| Rocket | 1 | 10 cold-gas thrusters for upward and rotational movement: the "flying" version | Under 0.59 seconds |
The Rocket is listed as invite-only, and Tesla notes that it is not approved for public road use. So the version that flies is not one you could drive to work.
Can the Tesla Roadster really fly?
Not in the way an airplane or helicopter flies. The demo showed short, powered hops: the thrusters push the car up for a few seconds, then gravity brings it back down. An aviation expert told CNN the stunt was closer to hopping than flying, and Axios called the whole show "gloriously absurd."
The physics explains the limit. Lifting a car takes thrust greater than its weight, and compressed air runs out fast. Tesla has not published how high or how long the Rocket can stay airborne, or how quickly its air tanks recharge. Until it does, treat "flying car" as a description of short jumps.
You can see the trade-off in the Flying Car Simulator: the thrusters only lift the car while you hold them, and the air gauge empties in a few seconds.
Tesla Roadster price and release date
- Price: Tesla did not announce prices for any version at the event, according to coverage of the unveiling.
- Release date: Musk said production will start in 2028. Tesla has given Roadster dates before: the first prototype was shown in 2017, and the car is years past its original schedule, so plan around 2028 as Tesla's target, not a guarantee.
- Reservations: Tesla's site takes reservations; check the Roadster page for the current terms in your country.
Is a flying Roadster legal?
That is unresolved. The US road-safety regulator NHTSA told CBS News that "the manufacturer must ensure that it does not defy applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards." A senior Department of Transportation official told CBS there is no clear answer yet on who would oversee a car that leaves the ground. No sign-off from the Federal Aviation Administration has been reported. For now, the road-legal versions are Performance and Thrust; the Rocket is for closed courses.
What 0–60 in 0.59 seconds feels like
Reaching 60 mph (26.8 m/s) in 0.59 seconds means accelerating at about 45 m/s², or 4.6 g: more than four times the pull of gravity, pressing you into the seat. Our g-force guide works through the math for each version and compares it with everyday experiences. The simulator shows the g-force live as you launch.
Common questions
Is Tesla making a flying car? Tesla unveiled a Roadster on October 15, 2026, whose single-seat Rocket version can hop and flip using cold-gas thrusters. It does not fly like an aircraft, is not approved for public roads, and is not on sale yet.
When is the Tesla Roadster coming out? Musk said production will start in 2028. Tesla has missed earlier Roadster dates, so treat 2028 as a target.
How much is a Tesla Roadster? Tesla has not announced a price for any of the three versions.
How fast is the Tesla Roadster? Tesla claims 0–60 mph in under 1.6 seconds for Performance, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for the Rocket. These are Tesla's figures, not independent tests.
How does the Tesla Roadster fly? Ten thrusters release compressed air from onboard tanks, about 600 liters according to Tesla's engineering lead. The thrust lifts and rotates the car for short hops; nothing is burned.
Is there a Tesla flying car game? Our free Flying Car Simulator lets you launch a thruster car in 3D, ride an upside-down ramp, jump parked cars and land flips in your browser. It is an independent game, not affiliated with Tesla.