Tesla’s airborne Roadster demonstration draws praise and skepticism
Tesla demonstrated a Roadster that flips through the air, drawing sharply different reactions as Musk targets production in 2028.
xAITesla unveiled its redesigned Roadster on October 15 with a demonstration that sent the vehicle airborne. The car climbed a curved ramp, turned upside down and flipped before landing on its wheels. Musk said engineers from Tesla and SpaceX worked together on the vehicle.
The presentation drew contrasting reactions from technology figures. Former PayPal president David Marcus praised the spectacle, while programmer John Carmack said he preferred the basic model without thrusters. Technology reviewer Marques Brownlee questioned the performance claims and delivery timeline.
The unveiling follows years of delays for the next-generation sports car. Its brief airborne maneuvers rely on compressed-gas thrusters and a suction system, rather than demonstrating ordinary airborne transportation.
Musk said consumer production would begin in 2028, and Tesla did not immediately announce a price. The company’s restrictions also leave a significant limit on the demonstration: the rocket feature lacks approval for use on public streets.
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