Tesla’s New Roadster Car Can Thrust Itself in the Air. But Don’t Expect to Drive It Anytime Soon

Tesla has unveiled its upgraded Roadster sports car, which is capable of lifting itself into the air, along with other advanced features. However, car owners should not anticipate taking the vehicle for a test drive in the near future. Elon Musk, the CEO of the electric car manufacturer, revealed the second-generation Roadster at a Thursday event, showcasing its cold gas thrusters and a multi-mode suction system that can propel the car in the air for brief periods and spin it mid-flight. Musk commented on his social media platform X that "the future does have flying cars."

Nevertheless, the future of flying vehicles may be distant due to the regulatory obstacles and state-level restrictions that must be addressed. David Vladeck, a Georgetown Law professor and former FTC director, expressed skepticism about the possibility of permitting a driver to suddenly elevate and fly amidst regular traffic. Tesla highlighted the use of SpaceX technology during the event, held at the Texas rocket testing and development center for SpaceX, Musk's publicly-traded rocket company.

The new Roadster boasts impressive acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour in under a second, in addition to quick jumps and flips. Tesla unveiled this vehicle after years of delays and anticipation, leading to a rise in Tesla shares on the opening day of trading on Friday before experiencing a decline in the following days.

Tesla's executives announced that consumer production would not commence until 2028, and the price of the latest electric vehicle has not been disclosed yet. Reservations for the "rocket" car could be made on Tesla's website, but there is no assurance regarding delivery or if the vehicle would even be delivered.

Law professor Bryant Walker Smith expressed disappointment in the demonstration, emphasizing that it was merely a one-off car using a technology that has existed for many years and will not be available on public roads by 2028. Smith compared Tesla's ability to maintain its stock at high levels to a "one-off" achievement. Despite Tesla's frequent statements about autonomous driving, the company maintains that the Roadster will be designed for human drivers, positioning it as the "best of the last human-driven cars" from Tesla.

During the demonstration, Musk noted that the car would be technically autonomous "to ensure safety." However, in the long term, the Roadster will be "the only manually driven car that Tesla makes." Musk acknowledged that the vehicle is not "safety-optimized" but added that it brings the "fun meter to 11 out of 10."

The first Roadster model was launched in 2008, and in 2018, Musk placed one on a rocket with a mannequin called "Starman" in the driver's seat, and launched it into space. As for the financial implications, Tesla's second-quarter earnings reported in the summer revealed a decline in profits due to increased spending on research and development for its robotaxi and robotics businesses, which impacted its revenue from otherwise robust vehicle sales. The company's net income for the period was $1.11 billion, with revenue reaching $28.24 billion.