Tesla Unveils Flying Roadster 2, Pushes Production Back to 2028

Tesla demonstrated a flying version of its Roadster 2 on Thursday night at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, then told attendees the car's production start has moved to 2028, according to WIRED. The company first promised the vehicle would ship in 2020.

What Happened at Tesla's McGregor, Texas Event?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and vehicle engineering head Lars Moravy presented the Roadster 2 at SpaceX's rocket development site, WIRED reported. Four onboard thrusters, powered by compressed gas, lifted the car into the air during the demonstration; at one point it passed several feet over Tesla's electric Semi truck, per WIRED's account of the event. HTT News separately reported the car used SpaceX-derived rocket technology to hover during the same Oct. 16 test, corroborating the thruster demonstration (HTT News). Musk told the crowd, "This is not necessarily a safety-optimized car," according to WIRED.

How Fast Can the Roadster 2 Go?

Tesla executives said the car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in one second, WIRED reported. Moravy said the production version would "hopefully" reach 230 mph. Musk set a higher personal target: half the speed of sound, or roughly 385 mph, per WIRED's reporting. For comparison, modern Formula 1 cars top out around 220 mph, according to WIRED — meaning Tesla's stated floor for the Roadster 2 already exceeds F1's ceiling, and Musk's stretch goal would nearly double it. Range tells a different story: Tesla said the Roadster 2 will travel more than 300 miles per charge, a figure WIRED called middling for a mainstream EV. Tesla's own Model 3 already covers up to 360 miles per charge, WIRED noted, meaning the company's flagship sports car currently trails its sedan on range. Musk said the same compressed-gas thrusters used for flight also generate downward force to improve cornering, telling attendees the car would "crush every track record that has ever existed," per WIRED.

Why Has the Roadster 2 Timeline Slipped From 2020 to 2028?

Tesla announced the Roadster 2 in 2017 and originally said it would ship in 2020, according to WIRED. Thursday's event moved that target to 2028 — an eight-year delay from the original promise. WIRED noted Musk has a pattern of missing self-set deadlines across Tesla product lines. A rough timeline based on WIRED's reporting: 2017, Roadster 2 unveiled as a concept with a 2020 ship date; 2020, that date passes without a production vehicle; Oct. 15, 2026, Tesla demonstrates a flying prototype at the McGregor SpaceX facility; 2028, the company's newly stated production start.

What Does the Roadster 2 Cost to Reserve?

Tesla has not disclosed a final sticker price, WIRED reported. Early depositors in 2017 paid $50,000 toward what was then advertised as a $200,000 car; WIRED calculated that deposit is worth more than $68,000 in 2026 dollars, underscoring nearly a decade of inflation since the original pledge. Tesla's current reservation page lists three configurations, per WIRED: a two-seat "Performance" road car without thrusters, available for a $5,000 deposit plus $45,000 due within 10 days; a track-oriented "Thrust" variant, listed as "limited," requiring a $5,000 deposit plus an additional payment due within the same 10-day window; and a one-seat "Rocket" variant with the flight thrusters, marked "invite only" and not currently open for reservation, WIRED reported.

What's Next for the Roadster 2?

• Regulatory review: WIRED flagged that the thruster system is likely to draw scrutiny from federal regulators before any road-legal sale.
• Price announcement: Tesla did not state a final cost at the Texas event, per WIRED; a published price remains the next concrete milestone.
• 2028 production start: Investors and reservation holders will be watching whether Tesla holds this date, given the 2020 target it already missed by six years.
• Top-speed verification: Moravy's 230 mph figure and Musk's 385 mph aspiration remain unverified outside Thursday's demonstration, per WIRED's account.

None of the figures Tesla presented Thursday — acceleration, thruster-assisted flight, or the 2028 date — have been independently tested outside the company's own event, based on WIRED's reporting.

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