{
  "id": 15288769,
  "title": "Tesla’s new Roadster car can thrust itself in air, but don’t expect to drive it soon",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/teslas-new-roadster-car-can-thrust-itself-in-air-but-dont-expect-to",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-17T21:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Qatar Tribune Business",
    "slug": "qatar-tribune-business",
    "url": "https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/259581/business/teslas-new-roadster-car-can-thrust-itself-in-air-but-dont-expect-to-drive-it-soon"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tesla has introduced its new Roadster sports car, boasting a unique capability to propel itself into the air, as well as other advanced features. However, customers should not anticipate driving the vehicle in the near future. During a Thursday event at SpaceX's Texas rocket testing facility, Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased a cold gas thrusters and a \"multi-mode\" suction system that enables the car to leap into the air for brief periods and spin mid-flight. Musk expressed excitement on his social media platform X, declaring that the future indeed includes flying cars. Yet, achieving such a feat is far from certain due to regulatory challenges and state-specific restrictions. David Vladeck, a Georgetown Law professor and former FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection director, voiced concerns about the feasibility of such regulations, stating that permitting drivers to elevate and fly in traffic would be a complex process. The event, held at SpaceX's Texas testing center, highlighted Tesla's utilization of SpaceX technology to achieve the car's aerial maneuvers. Beyond the aerial capabilities, the Roadster can also accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than a second. Despite the recent launch, Tesla has not yet set a production timeline and a price point for the new EV. Reservations were accepted on its website, but there is no assurance of delivery or a specific date. The company maintains that the Roadster will be operated by humans, positioning it as the \"best of the last human-driven cars\" from Tesla. In contrast to its autonomous vehicle focus, Musk acknowledged that the Roadster will be manually driven, though he described it as not necessarily safety-optimized. The second-generation Roadster follows Tesla's first Roadster launched in 2008 and a 2018 launch where a mannequin named \"Starman\" occupied the driver's seat in a Roadster aboard a SpaceX rocket. While Tesla's stock rose in early trading post-launch, analysts remain skeptical about the vehicle's potential to boost the company's bottom line. Tesla reported a profit decline in Q2 due to increased investments in robotaxi and robotics, which impacted revenue from vehicle sales. As of now, the Roadster remains a concept vehicle, with production slated for 2028, leaving many questions unanswered about its commercial viability.",
  "summary": "AgenciesTesla has unveiled its new Roadster sports car, which can thrust itself in the air, among other engineering bells and whistles. But drivers shouldn’t expect to take it for...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Inc.",
        "title": "With the Flying Roadster, Tesla Just Did the Most Elon Musk Thing Yet",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/with-the-flying-roadster-tesla-just-did-the-most-elon-musk-thing-yet",
        "published": "2026-10-16T12:19:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "3 fine-print disclaimers from Musk and Tesla about the new flying Roadster you should probably know about",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/3-fine-print-disclaimers-from-musk-and-tesla-about-the-new-flying",
        "published": "2026-10-16T12:20:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}