Tesla unveiled its long-promised "flying car" on Thursday, with Chief Executive Elon Musk announcing a planned 2028 release. The thruster-equipped Roadster was presented at SpaceX's McGregor facility, nearly nine years after the car was first shown.
The audience included Tesla enthusiasts and, reportedly, buyers who paid $250,000 deposits nine years ago to secure the vehicle on release. Tesla previously took $50,000 deposits for the standard car and $250,000 for the Founders Series.
The vehicle's flying capability is expected to come from cold gas thrusters, a technology commonly used in rockets and jointly developed by Tesla and SpaceX. Pre-event reports said the flying version would be remotely piloted, with no driver onboard, because of the noise and safety risks the thrusters pose to onlookers.
The Roadster was first shown in November 2017 and has become a symbol of missed Tesla deadlines. It was originally promised for 2020, then pushed to 2022, 2023 and 2024. Musk's ambitions for the car also kept growing. He first wanted the fastest production car in history, then one "crazier than all James Bond cars combined," and finally one that can fly.
The event itself was delayed. It was originally set for October 1 but was postponed two weeks because of severe weather forecasts.
For deposit holders, the 2028 date is another long wait. As one auto outlet put it before the event, the real test is a production-ready car, a firm delivery date, and evidence that Tesla can keep this promise.
Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880
Sources
36Kr, "Is Tesla's 'flying' supercar coming?" (Aug 18, 2026): cold gas thrusters, and Musk's escalating demands for the car. https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3944462536572039
Carscoops, "Tesla Roadster, SpaceX thrusters" (Aug 2026): the $50,000 and $250,000 deposit tiers, and the need for a firm delivery date. https://carscoops.com/2026/08/tesla-roadster-spacex-thrusters
Dim Sum Daily, "Tesla considers showcasing flying car technology..." (Aug 17, 2026): remotely piloted demo and safety precautions. https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/tesla-considers-showcasing-flying-car-technology-with-new-roadster-demo-in-collaboration-with-spacex/
Motor1 France (Aug 2026): the Roadster's earlier promised dates of 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. https://fr.motor1.com/news/805084/tesla-roadster-presentee-aout-voiture-volante/
days.to, "When is Tesla Roadster Unveiling 2026?": first shown in November 2017, and the October 1 postponement. https://days.to/when-is/tesla-roadster-launch
Not a Tesla App, "Tesla Closes Texas Airspace for Roadster Launch Event": the FAA flight restriction over the McGregor site. https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/4711/tesla-closes-texas-airspace-for-roadster-launch-event
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