Tesla Unveils Roadster 2 in Texas, a Sports Car That Can Fly on Thrusters
Electric carmaker Tesla and CEO Elon Musk unveiled the luxury Roadster 2 sports car in Texas, where it lifted off the ground using four thrusters during a demonstration. Production is planned for 2028, eight years after the originally promised date.
Tesla, the US electric carmaker, presented its new luxury sports car, the Roadster 2, on Thursday night in McGregor, Texas. The event took place at SpaceX's rocket development and testing facility. CEO Elon Musk described it as the company's last human-driven car. It is the long-awaited successor to Tesla's first vehicle, the original Roadster.
During the demonstration, the car rose into the air with a burst of steam. At one point it flew over Tesla's entire model line-up, hovering several feet above the company's electric Semi truck. Tesla executives said the vehicle could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (about 97 km/h) in one second. Musk acknowledged that it is not necessarily a safety-optimized car.
The flying capability comes from four thrusters, said Lars Moravy, Tesla's head of vehicle engineering.
A long wait
The Roadster 2 was first announced in 2017, when Tesla said it would be the fastest production car in the world. Deliveries were initially promised for 2020. Enthusiasts paid $50,000 deposits for a car advertised at $200,000; in 2026 dollars, that deposit is worth more than $68,000. Some grew tired of waiting: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman complained on X last year that he had trouble canceling his reservation, while Musk said Altman got a refund within 24 hours.
Musk now plans to begin production in 2028. He has said Tesla should no longer be regarded as a carmaker, as the company is focused on autonomous vehicle technology and robots.
Market conditions
The unveiling comes at an awkward time for electric vehicles. EV sales in the US have stalled after the Republican-led Congress removed federal support, while the global energy crisis has boosted EV sales elsewhere. Electric luxury hypercars are in an especially difficult position: several luxury automakers say wealthy buyers now want the sound and power of a conventional gas-powered car. Lamborghini shelved its plans for an EV earlier this year.
