Tesla has revived its long-delayed Roadster with a redesigned electric sports car that uses SpaceX technology for airborne maneuvers. Reuters reported that Tesla plans to start production in 2028.
SpaceX hardware reaches Roadster
At the demonstration, the two-seat Roadster drove upside down on a ramp and used a suction system and built-in thrusters to turn in the air before landing, Reuters reported. Tesla says the car combines a multi-mode suction system with cold-gas thrusters and can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second. (Reuters; Tesla)
Production set for 2028
The demonstration came nearly nine years after Tesla first showed a next-generation Roadster. Reuters said the company plans to begin production in 2028, but the report did not give a consumer delivery date. (Reuters)
Reuters cited an estimate that Tesla could sell about 2,000 Roadsters a year, compared with roughly 1.6 million vehicles sold by the company last year. That would make the Roadster a small part of Tesla's sales volume, while giving the company a high-profile showcase for its engineering plans.
Road-ready version stays grounded
Tesla's website separates the road-ready Performance version from the Thrust and Rocket versions. The Rocket trim is invite-only and is not approved for public road use. Tesla describes the Performance version as a two-seat road car, while the Thrust version adds rear cold-gas thrusters for track use. (Tesla)
The Roadster is still a planned vehicle rather than a production model. Tesla's stated 2028 production target will determine when customers can receive the car.
References
Reuters. (2026, October 16). Tesla unveils next generation Roadster sports EV with SpaceX thrusters. Euronext. https://live.euronext.com/en/financial-news/tesla-unveils-next-generation-roadster-sports-ev-with-spacex-thrusters
Tesla. (n.d.). Roadster. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/roadster