Tesla has unveiled a redesigned version of its long-delayed Roadster electric sports car, featuring rocket-style thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX, with production expected to begin in 2028.
The unveiling took place on Thursday, October 15, at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas. The demonstration featured a white, two-seat vehicle performing dramatic manoeuvres, including driving upside down on a ramp, turning in mid-air and jumping over other vehicles using its built-in thruster system.
According to Reuters, the event marked a significant milestone for the next-generation Roadster, which Tesla first introduced as a prototype in November 2017. The company had initially planned to begin deliveries in 2020, but the programme experienced repeated delays.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk described the vehicle as the result of close collaboration between engineers at Tesla and SpaceX. The demonstration was designed to showcase the technology behind the electric sports car and its unusual propulsion-assisted capabilities.
Tesla vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy said the Roadster could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second and reach a top speed exceeding 230 miles per hour. The company also cited a driving range of more than 300 miles on a single charge.
The performance figures were presented during the unveiling and have not yet been independently verified in routine road conditions.
Thruster technology sets Roadster apart
The new Roadster’s most distinctive feature is its integration of thruster technology associated with SpaceX, the aerospace company also led by Musk.
During the demonstration, the vehicle used the system to perform airborne manoeuvres, including a jump over other vehicles. The presentation highlighted Tesla’s attempt to combine high-performance electric motoring with technology inspired by aerospace engineering.
However, questions remain about how the thruster-equipped vehicle would operate outside a controlled demonstration environment, including its practicality and regulatory requirements for public-road use.
Tesla has not announced a final price for the redesigned model. Reuters reported that the company’s reservation page listed a Performance version requiring a $50,000 deposit and a Thrust version requiring a $250,000 deposit. A more specialised Rocket variant, described as an invite-only, single-seat model with a full flight system, was also listed.
The deposits do not represent the vehicle’s confirmed final purchase prices.
A long-awaited return
The unveiling revives a project that has remained part of Tesla’s product plans for nearly nine years.
When the company first presented the next-generation Roadster in 2017, it promoted the vehicle as a high-performance electric car capable of challenging established expectations about speed and driving range. Deliveries were initially expected in 2020, but that timeline passed without the vehicle entering production.
The original Tesla Roadster, produced from 2008 to 2012, was the company’s first electric vehicle. The model helped establish Tesla’s reputation for developing electric cars with sports-car performance.
The latest version arrives as Tesla places greater emphasis on autonomous driving technology, artificial intelligence and robotics. The company has also introduced the Cybercab, a two-seat robotaxi designed without conventional driving controls, as part of its broader plans for autonomous transport.
The Roadster therefore represents a different aspect of Tesla’s product strategy, focusing on performance and technology rather than mass-market transport.
Commercial impact remains uncertain
Despite the spectacle surrounding the unveiling, the vehicle’s financial contribution to Tesla remains uncertain.
Musk previously described the Roadster as a relatively small contributor to the company’s finances, while analysts have characterised it as a flagship vehicle intended to demonstrate the manufacturer’s engineering capabilities.
Its commercial prospects will depend partly on the final price, production schedule, performance in real-world conditions and the extent to which customers are willing to pay for its specialised technology.
Tesla is expected to report its third-quarter financial results on October 21, 2026, according to Reuters. Investors are likely to examine the company’s financial performance alongside its longer-term plans for electric vehicles, autonomous transport and robotics.
With production scheduled for 2028, the redesigned Roadster is not yet available as a mass-produced vehicle. Its unveiling offers a glimpse of Tesla’s ambitions for high-performance electric cars, but the company must still turn the demonstration into a commercially available product.