Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the next-generation Roadster at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 15, the elon musk tesla roadster event that ended with a staged midair flip and a slow hover back to the ground.
At the McGregor, Texas demonstration, Tesla drove a two-seat Roadster up a curved ramp, had it hang inverted, flip in midair and then use thruster systems to hover and land, according to CNBC’s event account.
Live reporting and a running live blog from Engadget described the demo as using SpaceX-style cold-gas thrusters, with Tesla’s presenters saying the car paused upside down on the ramp before spinning off and using jets to control descent. Engadget also reported that an Optimus robot occupied the driver’s seat for parts of the show and that Tesla measured a 0–60 mph sprint clocked at about 0.81 seconds during a timed run.
CNBC reported the event was livestreamed starting at 7:55 p.m. local time and noted Tesla executives Franz von Holzhausen and Lars Moravy were onstage with Musk. CNBC also said Tesla plans to begin production of the next-generation Roadster in 2028 and that the company has recently reopened $50,000 reservations for the model.
The demonstration confirmed long-running teasers that the elon musk tesla roadster would incorporate SpaceX-derived hardware. CNBC quoted Musk saying the reveal showed “the results of what happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.” Both outlets described the thruster package as cold-gas systems rather than rocket propellant.
Context for the Roadster dates back to Tesla’s 2017 concept refresh, when Musk first floated a SpaceX option package of small rocket thrusters for the car. Engadget and CNBC traced the vehicle’s delays and multiple postponed reveal dates before this October demonstration.
Why it matters: the elon musk tesla roadster demo marries Tesla spectacle with SpaceX engineering, a combination that analysts say drives investor and fan attention even if the model will be low-volume when it reaches production. Tesla is scheduled to report third-quarter results after the bell this week, and the company’s product theatrics often draw market focus ahead of earnings reports.
For readers following Musk across companies, this event follows recent coverage of his broader business moves and public profile, including reporting on his net worth and SpaceX activity.
Sources
- CNBC — location and timing of the Texas reveal; description of ramp/hover demo; production timeline and reopened reservations.
- Engadget — live blog details of midair flip, thrusters, Optimus in the driver’s seat and a reported 0–60 timing of ~0.81 seconds.
