Overview
- Tesla revealed the Roadster 2.0 as a two-seat, extreme-performance prototype that uses SpaceX-developed air thrusters and a ground-sealing suction system to perform brief vertical lift and inverted-run maneuvers.
- The company showed the car at a private SpaceX test site in Texas and said series production is planned to begin in 2028.
- Tesla opened reservations with three tiered variants and steep deposits: Performance ($50,000), Thrust ($250,000), and an invite-only single-seat Rocket described as having a full flight system.
- Tesla did not clarify whether the vehicle’s flight-capable functions can be legally or practically used on public roads, leaving open airworthiness, vehicle-safety, and road‑use approvals.
- Analysts view the Roadster as a low-volume halo model with Morningstar estimating roughly 2,000 units a year, and the project fits Tesla’s wider push into autonomy, AI and robotics through shared engineering with SpaceX.