Tesla has unveiled a flying car with a live demonstration at a SpaceX test facility in Texas. CEO Elon Musk showed a new version of the Roadster that can leave the ground using high-pressure air jets.
The demo showed a two-seat Roadster climbing a steep ramp, hanging upside down, flipping through the air, and landing with the help of its jet system. Later, the car jumped over a row of parked Tesla vehicles and accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in less than one second.
Real life, baby https://t.co/3QEqn18wig
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
According to Musk, the Roadster uses 10 nozzles and ultra-high-pressure air tanks to generate thrust. He said the technology came from work between Tesla and SpaceX.
For safety reasons, the car did not have a driver during the demonstration. Musk also told the audience that the stunt might not work, but the vehicle completed the maneuvers.
Tesla says the Roadster is scheduled to enter production in 2028. The reveal comes nearly nine years after the company first introduced the second-generation Roadster in 2017.
The project faced several delays as Tesla focused on other vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. Because of that history, some are cautious about Tesla’s timeline.
The bigger question is whether the car can actually fly in the way we all imagine. During the demonstration, the Roadster only made short jumps and brief airborne moves. Tesla did not show any long-distance or sustained flight.
Some industry experts were skeptical. Critics have also questioned whether Tesla’s Roadster can deliver its performance claims, aerial stunts, and 2028 production target. Even YouTuber Marques Brownlee publicly expressed his doubt after the event.
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For now, Tesla has shown that the Roadster can briefly leave the ground. Whether it can become an actual practical flying car is still something they need to prove.
