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Tesla shows thruster-equipped Roadster, nine years after first reveal, and targets 2028 production

Tesla unveiled a redesigned Roadster with SpaceX-built cold-gas thrusters Thursday night in Texas, and Elon Musk said production will begin in 2028 — eight years after the car's original delivery target — without announcing a price.

By US Brief desk · Updated 2026-10-15T20:38:00-07:00

AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below

A red Tesla Roadster prototype with a low, curved body on display at its 2017 unveiling (file photo)

What happened

Tesla showed its long-delayed second-generation Roadster Thursday night at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, near Waco. In a livestreamed event of less than 30 minutes, a white two-seater drove up a curved ramp, clung to it upside down, flipped in midair, hovered and landed, using fans, suction and cold-gas thrusters, according to CNBC, Reuters and TechCrunch. Musk said the car will enter production in 2028. Tesla did not announce a price.

Why it matters

The Roadster is a low-volume halo car, and Musk said he is "not sure it moves the needle massively from a revenue standpoint," TechCrunch reported. It matters most to depositors who have waited almost nine years, and as a test of Tesla's timelines as the company shifts its focus toward self-driving and robotics, Reuters noted. Some reservation holders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have publicly asked for refunds over the delays, CNBC reported.

More context

The claims: Tesla said the car can reach 60 mph in under a second; its on-screen timer showed 0.81 seconds, The Verge reported. Musk said top speed exceeds 230 mph. Engineering vice president Lars Moravy said 10 thrusters fed by 600 liters of rechargeable compressed air lift and spin the car, TechCrunch reported. Tesla listed three versions: a road-going two-seat "Performance," a "race ready" two-seat "Thrust" with rear thrusters, and a one-seat "Rocket" with a "full flight system" that is invite-only. TechCrunch said Tesla lists about 300 miles of range for all three. Musk said it will be the last Tesla built to be driven by a human and will not include Tesla's FSD system.

Deposits: Tesla's reservation page asked $50,000 for the Performance version and $250,000 for Thrust, Reuters and TechCrunch reported; WIRED said only Performance could be reserved Thursday night. CNBC said Tesla reopened reservations in recent weeks in the U.S., Canada and China. Some 2017 buyers paid $250,000 for one of 1,000 "Founders Series" cars, TechCrunch reported.

Promised vs. actual: Nov. 2017 — Roadster unveiled at the Tesla Semi event; Tesla said deliveries would start in 2020 (Reuters). June 2018 — Musk tweets that a "SpaceX option package" with about 10 small thrusters might "even allow a Tesla to fly" (CNBC). 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 — Musk delays the car again (TechCrunch). Late 2025 — Musk says he hopes to demo it by year-end; it doesn't happen (CNBC). Nov. 2025 — demo moved to April 1, 2026, then pushed back again (TechCrunch). Oct. 1, 2026 — planned event postponed by severe weather (TechCrunch). Oct. 15, 2026 — demo held; production now set for 2028.

What's still unknown: price; whether the flying and thruster features can be legal on public roads, which Reuters said was not immediately clear and The Verge said would involve both the FAA and NHTSA; full specifications for the Thrust and Rocket versions; and when existing depositors will get cars. Next: Tesla reports third-quarter results Wednesday, Oct. 21, after the market closes, according to CNBC, when analysts may ask about the Roadster's timeline and cost.

5 listed sources

References listed by US Brief; a source count is not a verification score.

Editorial sourcing notes

Performance figures are Tesla's own claims from the event and have not been independently tested. Reports differ on reservations: Reuters and TechCrunch say Tesla's site listed a $250,000 deposit for the Thrust version, while WIRED said only the Performance version could be reserved. US Brief did not place a reservation to check.

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