Tesla shows airborne Roadster, targets production start in 2028
A Texas demonstration featured brief airborne maneuvers, while Elon Musk said Tesla plans to begin producing the long-delayed car in 2028.
Key takeaways
- Tesla demonstrated the new Roadster at a SpaceX test site in Texas.
- Elon Musk said production is planned to start in 2028.
- Tesla disclosed a 0.81-second run to about 97 km/h, which has not been independently verified.
Tesla demonstrated its new Roadster at a SpaceX test site in Texas, with Elon Musk saying production is planned to start in 2028. The event featured the car briefly lifting off, turning in the air and landing.
The demonstration used pressure-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX technology. The car also moved along the underside of a ramp using a suction system. The airborne maneuvers were short and controlled, not a display of sustained flight.
Tesla disclosed that the Roadster reached about 97 km/h from a standstill in 0.81 seconds. The figure has not been independently verified, according to Dünya. Musk said the car’s top speed would exceed 370 km/h.
Reports described a Thrust version with rear thrusters and a Rocket version with additional thrusters for airborne movement. Tesla has not announced the final sale price or when deliveries will begin. The model was first unveiled in 2017, with deliveries initially targeted for 2020.
This article was produced with the help of AI technology. Based on reporting by the outlets listed above.
