TSLA ▲ +4.6% - Tesla, Inc. $TSLA The second-generation Tesla Roadster did not perform sustained, point-to-point flight last night, but it did successfully launch itself into the air using SpaceX-derived cold-gas thrusters. During a product demonstration in McGregor, Texas on October 15, 2026, Elon Musk showcased the long-delayed vehicle performing driverless stunts. The vehicle features a fan suction system on its underside that generates up to 2 Gs of downforce, allowing it to drive completely upside down on an inverted metal ramp. Upon driving off the ramp, the car used an ultra-high-pressure compressed air tank to power its rocket thrusters, executing mid-air flips and a controlled landing. In a separate demonstration, the same thruster system allowed the car to physically leap over a line of parked Tesla vehicles. Aviation experts emphasize that the technology is designed for brief, explosive bursts of maneuverability and stabilizing jumps rather than cruising through the air. On the ground, the thrusters enable a 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of 0.81 seconds. Tesla has opened reservations for three versions of the vehicle (Performance, Thrust, and Rocket), with production targeted for 2028. 16-OCT-2026 06:09 AM ET