Elon Musk unveils Tesla Roadster with rocket thrusters at Texas facility
Tesla unveiled a next-generation Roadster electric sports car with rocket-powered thrusters at a SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas. The vehicle performed midair maneuvers including flipping, driving upside down, and flying over other vehicles during the demonstration.
- Where
- McGregor, McLennan County
- When
- Oct. 15, 2026
- Sources
- Reported by 6 outlets
Counties: McLennan
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
- Roadster Performance version reservation payment$50,0001 Who pays or receives it: customer
- Roadster Thrust version reservation payment$250,0001 Who pays or receives it: customer
- Roadster Performance version initial deposit$5,0005 Who pays or receives it: customer
- Roadster Performance version second payment$45,0005 Who pays or receives it: customer
- Roadster Thrust version initial deposit$5,0005 Who pays or receives it: customer
- Roadster Thrust version second payment$245,0005 Who pays or receives it: customer
Who's involved
- Elon MuskCEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX
- Lars MoravyTesla VP of Vehicle Engineering
- Franz von HolzhausenTesla Chief Designer
- Teslavehicle manufacturer
- SpaceXtechnology partner
The facts
- Roadster launched into air, performed flip, used thrusters to stabilize landing [1]1
- Vehicle also jumped over lineup of Tesla vehicles including Cybertruck and Tesla Semi [1]1
- Production expected to begin in 2028 [1]1
- Roadster uses 10 thruster nozzles and high-pressure air tanks for brief airborne maneuvers [1]1
- Vehicle designed to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than one second [1]1
- Company offers three versions: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket [1]1
- Vehicle will have range of more than 300 miles and top speed exceeding 230 mph [1]1
- Demonstration was remotely controlled with no human driver [2]2
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Where the sources disagree
- Roadster Performance version deposit amount $50,000 per [1]; $5,000 initial plus $45,000 within ten days per [5]
- Roadster Thrust version deposit amount $250,000 per [1]; $5,000 initial plus $245,000 within ten days per [5]
- Acceleration time for Thrust version under one second per [1]; under 0.59 seconds per [5]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Elon Musk Unveils ‘Flying’ Tesla Roadster At SpaceX Facility In Texas
Tesla’s new Roadster can fly? Elon Musk unveils rocket-powered electric sports car in Texas
Musk Unveils Flying Tesla Roadster at SpaceX Texas Site
Elon Musk unveils Tesla’s ‘flying’ car
Elon Musk’s flying Tesla Roadster flips upside down during Texas demonstration
Elon Musk unveils Tesla Roadster with flying capabilities in Texas
Elon’s Flying Cars: Analysts Predict Musk Could Merge Tesla and SpaceX Before End of Year
Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Roadster Flying Car With SpaceX Thrusters in Texas: 28 outlets compared
Sources
Outlets: 1 left-leaning, 1 right-leaning, 3 not rated Who's covering Texas →
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
- Tesla’s new Roadster can fly? Elon Musk unveils rocket-powered electric sports car in Texas
- Musk Unveils Flying Tesla Roadster at SpaceX Texas Site
- Elon Musk’s flying Tesla Roadster flips upside down during Texas demonstration
- Elon Musk unveils Tesla Roadster with flying capabilities in Texas
- Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Roadster Flying Car With SpaceX Thrusters in Texas: 28 outlets compared
Also reported by Newsweek.
This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.