Nine Years in the Making, the Roadster Is Born Again
Tesla has ended a long wait for fans. On Thursday (10/15/2026) local time, Elon Musk unveiled the second-generation Roadster at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas — nearly nine years after the first prototype was showcased in 2017 with a promise of deliveries starting in 2020 that never materialized.
Musk announced production would begin in 2028. The two-seater developed with SpaceX is positioned as Tesla's first "halo car" — a vehicle to showcase the company's best technology, said Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein.
Flipped, Floating, Spinning in the Air
The climax of the event was a demonstration of a new Roadster driving upside down on a ramp using an underbody suction system, then spinning in the air and landing smoothly with internal thrusters. In another scene, the car was seen lifting itself and passing over a row of parked Tesla cars.
According to Tesla vice president of engineering Lars Moravy, 10 nozzles connected to 600 liters of compressed air lift and rotate the vehicle; the tank can be refilled.
Three Variants, Quickest 0-60 mph in 0.59 Seconds
Performance, two seats for the road, combining active aerodynamics and a multi-mode intake system with a claimed 0-60 mph in under 1.6 seconds. Thrust adds cold-gas thrusters at the rear for the track, with a claimed sub-0.9-second time.
The pinnacle is the Rocket: a single seat with cold-gas thrusters around the body that enable forward acceleration, upward movement, and even rotational motion. The claims: 0-60 mph in under 0.59 seconds, a top speed above 230 mph (370 km/h), and a range exceeding 300 miles (483 km). The legal validity of those features on public roads remains unclear.
Symbol, Not Money
Since 2023, Musk has called this car a "small potato situation" that will not move Tesla's finances. Goldstein estimates 2,000 units per year — a tiny fraction of the 1.6 million vehicles sold last year.
This launch underscores Tesla's shifting focus toward autonomy and AI robotics. This year Tesla discontinued sales of the Model S and X to produce the Optimus humanoid robot, and unveiled the Cybercab — a two-seat robotaxi without a steering wheel, pedals, or side mirrors.
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