Tesla Roadster Unveiled With SpaceX Thrusters, Production Set for 2028

Tesla has unveiled its redesigned Tesla Roadster electric sports car, featuring rocket-style thrusters that allow it to flip in mid-air and land, with production scheduled to begin in 2028, CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday.

The white, two-seat vehicle was developed in collaboration with SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company. During the unveiling event, the car drove upside down on a ramp using a suction system, performed an aerial flip and landed with the help of built-in thrusters. It later used the technology to jump over a truck and other vehicles while twisting in the air.

The unveiling comes more than a decade after Tesla first presented plans for a next-generation Roadster. The company has yet to disclose pricing for the redesigned model.

Tesla says the Roadster will have a top speed of more than 230 miles per hour and a range exceeding 300 miles. However, production is not expected to begin until 2028, extending the wait for a vehicle whose launch has faced repeated delays.

The SpaceX collaboration also prompted speculation among some Tesla watchers that the event could help build interest in a potential merger between the two companies, an idea Musk has explored while discussing their overlapping interests.

The unveiling gives Tesla a high-performance sports car as the company increasingly focuses on self-driving technology and robotics. The event also comes days before Tesla’s third-quarter financial results, which analysts consider more significant for investors.

Musk previously played down the Roadster’s financial importance, describing it in 2023 as a “small potato situation” that would not “move the needle in a major way financially.”

Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said the Roadster could serve as Tesla’s “halo car,” a high-performance luxury vehicle designed to showcase the company’s engineering and technology.