Tesla said the thrusters are powered by onboard compressed gas. Musk said the same technology that allows the vehicle to fly will also create a downward force that allows the vehicle to turn a corner very quickly. “It’s going to destroy every record that’s ever existed,” he said.
The company had initially promised that the Roadster 2 would be delivered in 2020. On Thursday, the Tesla team mentioned the new timeline, but did not mention the cost of the new car. Musk has a long history of failing to follow through on his highest product ambitions, and the deadlines for many Tesla releases have repeatedly missed their targets.
The company published on a “race-ready” push variant; and an “air-ready” Rocket variant that has only one seat. Tesla’s website lists the Rocket as “invitation only” and the Thrust as “limited.” You can currently only make a reservation for the Performance version.
When it was first announced, enthusiasts put down a $50,000 deposit for what was advertised as a $200,000 car. (That deposit is worth more than $68,000 in 2026 dollars.) Some got tired of waiting. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman complained on X last year that he had trouble canceling his reservation. Musk announced that Altman received a refund within 24 hours.
A reservation page posted on Tesla’s site now charges a $5,000 reservation fee, with an additional $45,000 payable within 10 days.
Musk said Tesla should no longer be considered an automaker and that the company is focused on building autonomous vehicle and robot technology.
Tesla said the thrusters are powered by onboard compressed gas. Musk claimed that the same technology that allows the vehicle to fly will also create a downward force that allows the vehicle to turn a corner very quickly. “It’s going to destroy every record that’s ever existed,” he said.
The unveiling event comes at a strange time for electric vehicles. Sales of electric vehicles have stalled in the United States after the Republican-led Congress rolled back federal support. Meanwhile, the global energy crisis is causing sales of electric vehicles to explode elsewhere. Luxury electric hypercars – the class the Roadster 2 belongs to – are in a particularly tricky situation. Several luxury automakers have said wealthy buyers now want the sound and power of a typical gasoline-powered vehicle. Lamborghini abandoned plans to make an electric vehicle earlier this year.
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