Tesla demonstrated a flying version of its next-generation Roadster on Thursday at SpaceX’s testing facility in McGregor, Texas, with the unoccupied prototype briefly leaving the ground during two demonstrations, AVweb reported.
The prototype drove up a curved ramp, continued upside down, then used compressed-air thrusters to rotate in midair and land on its wheels. A second demonstration showed it flying over parked Tesla vehicles. The vehicle was operated autonomously, with no one inside during the stunts.
Tesla engineering vice president Lars Moravy said the Roadster carries approximately 600 liters of compressed air in two pressure vessels and uses 10 thruster nozzles for propulsion and maneuvering, according to AVweb. The car also uses an underbody fan system that Tesla says generates suction to maintain traction, including while upside down.
Car and Driver reported that the reveal event included a prototype performing a barrel roll after leaving an arched structure. It said SpaceX supplied the thrusters and that Tesla presented three configurations: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Rocket version is described as a single-seat model with perimeter-mounted thrusters intended to enable upward movement and lateral rotation.
Tesla has said production is targeted for 2028, but the demonstrations did not establish that the vehicle can perform sustained flight. Elon Musk also acknowledged uncertainty about whether the vehicle would be legal in all jurisdictions.
That leaves an unresolved aviation question: whether and how a Roadster with flight capability would be regulated. AVweb noted that the Federal Aviation Administration broadly defines an aircraft as a device used or intended for flight, while Tesla has not publicly outlined an FAA certification pathway for the Roadster.