Tesla Unveils Thruster Powered Roadster, With Road Approval Still Unresolved

Tesla's new Roadster has now had two launch events. The first was in 2017; the second came on October 15, after years of delays, according to Business Insider and NBC News.

This time, the attraction was not just speed. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a prototype equipped with thrusters during a livestreamed event at his SpaceX rocket company's facility, Phys.org reported. The demonstration turned a long-awaited sports car into a test of what the company means by a "flying" vehicle.

At the October 15 demonstration in Texas, the Roadster launched off a curved ramp and landed on its wheels, according to Times now. NBC News described a prototype capable of briefly launching itself into the air, rather than a vehicle demonstrating sustained flight.

The explanation centred on thrusters. On October 17, The Hindu reported Musk's description of altitude control thrusters and main thrusters at the rear, allowing rolls and other aerial manoeuvres. The spectacle did not amount to road clearance: CBS Top Stories reported that day that the vehicle was not yet approved for sale or use on the road.

Other details changed the picture of the car itself. On October 17, Digital Trends reported a promised range of over 300 miles, down from the original 620-mile claim in 2017. Reservations had opened for Performance, Thrust and Rocket versions, according to News18.

By October 19, bookings were extending beyond the US. Times now reported Indian reservations reaching Rs 2.50 crore for the Thrust configuration, while stressing that this was a reservation amount, not the car's final price. Autocar India reported that production was set to begin in 2028.

Also on October 19, Live Science reported expert scepticism about whether the rocket-equipped Roadster could work in the real world. Meanwhile, NDTV reported that Musk had hinted at a future demonstration over the Grand Canyon. That remains a suggested stunt, not a demonstrated capability.

The distinction is between a prototype that has performed airborne stunts and a car cleared for customers to use. CBS Top Stories reported no approval for sale or road use, while Times now described unresolved questions about how a vehicle designed to fly would be regulated.

Even the demonstration left some observers unconvinced about the vehicle's readiness. CNET News Tech questioned whether the machine shown was a fully functional car that a person could drive. That is a question raised by the coverage, not proof that the prototype cannot operate as a conventional car.

The next substantive milestones are production progress toward 2028 and a clear account of approval requirements. The planned production date reported by Autocar India is still ahead, and the regulatory questions reported by Times now remain central to what buyers could actually do with the car.

Watch, too, for a clearer separation between versions and their permitted capabilities. Reservations cover three named variants, according to News18, but a booking is not evidence that airborne features will be allowed on public roads.