Elon Musk unveils Tesla’s ‘flying’ car, targets 2028 production

Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla, has unveiled a new version of the company’s long-awaited Roadster electric sports car, demonstrating a prototype capable of performing aerial stunts using technology developed in collaboration with his aerospace company, SpaceX.

The vehicle was showcased on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during a livestreamed event at a SpaceX testing facility in Texas, United States. The demonstration attracted widespread attention after the car drove along a curved ramp, travelled upside down before launching into the air, performed a mid-air flip and landed on its wheels. Blueprint reports

Musk described the development as evidence that flying cars could become a reality, although questions remain about the vehicle’s final capabilities, safety and regulatory approval.

“Flying cars are real,” Musk said during the event, while acknowledging that the project’s success was not guaranteed.

The demonstration was broadcast on Tesla’s social media account and featured a series of displays intended to highlight the vehicle’s unusual engineering and performance.

SpaceX technology powers aerial stunts

According to Musk, the Roadster uses ultra-high-pressure air tanks and thrusters to propel itself into the air. The system draws on technology associated with SpaceX, the aerospace company he also leads.

The vehicle’s engineering combines conventional electric-car technology with specialised equipment designed to enable manoeuvres that would be impossible for an ordinary road car.

During the presentation, Tesla’s vehicle engineering team also explained that a suction system beneath the car helps it maintain contact with a surface during certain manoeuvres, including driving upside down.

The prototype subsequently demonstrated another aerial stunt, launching over a line of Tesla vehicles before returning to the ground.

The displays were designed to demonstrate the potential of combining Tesla’s electric-vehicle engineering with SpaceX’s experience in propulsion and aerospace technology.

Musk described the project as the product of collaboration between what he called the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.

However, the demonstration does not necessarily mean that all the features shown will be available in every production model. The specifications, practical limitations and availability of the most advanced features will depend on the final vehicle and the version offered to customers.

Roadster targets 2028 production

Musk said production of the new Roadster is expected to begin in 2028, extending a project that has experienced years of delays.

Tesla first unveiled plans for the second-generation Roadster in 2017, promising a high-performance electric sports car with exceptional acceleration and a long driving range.

The original production timetable was subsequently pushed back, leaving customers who reserved the vehicle waiting for the next-generation model.

The latest unveiling has therefore renewed interest in whether Tesla can finally bring the Roadster to market and deliver the performance features promised during its earlier presentations.

The company has continued to develop the vehicle as part of its effort to demonstrate the limits of electric-car technology, particularly in acceleration, handling and overall performance.

The new model is also expected to serve as a flagship vehicle, showcasing engineering capabilities that could distinguish Tesla from other electric-car manufacturers.

While the company has presented 2028 as its production target, the timeline remains subject to the usual challenges associated with final development, manufacturing and regulatory requirements.

Questions remain over safety and road legality

Despite the excitement generated by the demonstration, the vehicle’s aerial capabilities raise questions about how it could be used safely outside a controlled testing environment.

Musk acknowledged that the car might not be legal in every jurisdiction, highlighting a distinction between demonstrating a vehicle’s capabilities and obtaining approval for use on public roads.

Road vehicles must comply with applicable safety, equipment and operating requirements. A car designed to leave the ground or perform aerial manoeuvres would face additional technical and regulatory considerations, particularly if such features were intended for use beyond controlled environments.

The demonstration also does not establish that the vehicle can operate like an aircraft or travel through the air for extended distances. The prototype’s brief aerial movements were made using specialised equipment, and further information would be needed to assess its practical capabilities.

The most advanced configuration, associated with the vehicle’s rocket-inspired technology, has been described as a specialised version rather than a conventional road car available for unrestricted public use.

For prospective buyers, the distinction between a high-performance electric sports car and a vehicle capable of controlled aerial manoeuvres will be important when assessing the product’s actual utility.

Tesla’s long wait for a new flagship car

The Roadster has been one of Tesla’s most anticipated projects since the second-generation model was announced nearly a decade ago.

The original Roadster, introduced in 2008, helped establish the company’s reputation by demonstrating that an electric vehicle could deliver sports-car performance rather than serving only as a practical alternative to petrol-powered cars.

Built around a lightweight sports-car platform, the first model played an important role in Tesla’s early development and helped challenge perceptions about the capabilities of electric vehicles.

The proposed successor was intended to take that concept further through improved acceleration, greater performance and advances in battery and vehicle technology.

However, repeated delays have tested the patience of some reservation holders, several of whom paid deposits years before the latest demonstration.

The new unveiling offers a clearer look at the direction Tesla wants to take with the Roadster, but the company will still need to translate the prototype’s performance into a commercially available product.

A new chapter in electric-car development

The Roadster demonstration comes as Tesla continues to expand its ambitions beyond conventional electric vehicles into autonomous driving, robotics and other emerging technologies.

For Musk, the project also reflects the growing overlap between the automotive and aerospace industries, as companies explore ways to apply propulsion, control and advanced engineering systems across different types of vehicles.

Although flying-car concepts have attracted public interest for decades, technical challenges, cost, safety and regulatory restrictions have limited their widespread adoption.

Tesla’s latest prototype adds a new dimension to that debate by demonstrating a car that can briefly leave the ground and perform aerial manoeuvres, rather than a conventional aircraft designed to transport passengers through the air.

Whether the technology becomes practical for ordinary motorists remains uncertain. The planned 2028 production target, the vehicle’s final specifications and the regulatory status of its specialised features will determine how much of the demonstration can be translated into a product customers can buy and use.

For now, the unveiling has placed the Roadster back in the spotlight, renewing attention on Tesla’s ambitious promises and the challenge of turning an eye-catching prototype into a safe, reliable and commercially viable vehicle.