Tesla Reveals SpaceX-Powered Roadster

Tesla has demonstrated its redesigned Roadster, including versions that use cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX engineering expertise.

What happened

The company showed a Roadster lifting itself, travelling over other Tesla vehicles and landing again. Tesla plans three versions—Performance, Thrust and Rocket—and says production is targeted for 2028. It also says the cars will offer around 300 miles of range, while higher-performance variants will use multiple compressed-air thrusters. Pricing remains undisclosed for some configurations, and the production target is a company plan rather than a guaranteed launch date. Tesla has delayed the Roadster repeatedly since its original unveiling in 2017.

Why it matters

The product is unlikely to be a major volume driver, but it is a distinctive example of technology transfer between automotive and aerospace engineering. Shared expertise in pressure vessels, propulsion and active control could influence future high-performance vehicle systems.

The bigger picture

The Roadster also illustrates how Tesla and SpaceX increasingly share engineering capabilities. The commercial significance is secondary to the technical demonstration, and execution risk remains high given the vehicle's long delay history.