Tesla is preparing to unveil its "flying" Roadster electric car. Its release has been delayed for nine years.

On October 15, Tesla will unveil an updated version of its Roadster electric sports car, whose release has been delayed for nearly nine years. The car is expected to be able to fly—lifting off the ground using SpaceX rocket technology, according to Bloomberg and MarketWatch. Elon Musk first announced this capability two years ago. With this spectacular demonstration, the company hopes to draw attention to its automotive business; however, analysts doubt that this expensive, niche model will have a significant impact on the company’s sales and financial results.

The Roadster 2.0 unveiling will begin on the evening of October 15, Texas time. The event will take place at SpaceX’s test facility in Texas and will be by invitation only, according to MarketWatch. Tesla will also host a live stream.

"The new Roadster transcends cinema, imagination, and human capabilities, yet it remains a creation of people on Earth," wrote the company's CEO, Elon Musk, on the social media platform X.

The car was first unveiled in November 2017 alongside the Tesla Semi electric truck. At the time, the company expected to begin production in 2020, but it has repeatedly postponed the timeline. In 2026, the demonstration was also postponed several times, most recently from October 1 due to “strong winds,” MarketWatch reports.

According to Musk, the new Roadster will be capable of speeds exceeding 250 miles per hour (402 km/h), travel up to 620 miles (about 998 km) on a single charge, and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in less than a second, MarketWatch reports.

One of Musk’s most high-profile promises is the car’s ability to hover in the air or even fly. To achieve this, an optional equipment package could include about ten small cold-gas rocket engines developed by SpaceX, according to MarketWatch. However, it remains unclear whether Tesla will be able to offer customers a fully functional flying version of the Roadster due to numerous challenges, ranging from cost and safety to regulatory issues and practicality, notes Bloomberg.

Last month, Tesla resumed accepting pre-orders: buyers were asked to pay $5,000 up front and another $45,000 within ten days. The final price of the car and the cost of additional options are still unknown, according to MarketWatch.

The first-generation Roadster was released in 2008 and discontinued in 2012.

“This will be an exciting product. It will likely generate a lot of buzz, but I don’t think it will significantly change the situation,” said Andrew Rocco, an equity strategist at Zacks Investment Research, according to Bloomberg. According to Rocco, the car’s high price and limited potential market are unlikely to have a noticeable impact on Tesla’s sales and profit outlook. Musk likes to generate hype around the brand, the analyst added.

The Roadster’s return is “long overdue,” and Tesla could benefit from a new model capable of attracting buyers’ attention, according to CFRA senior equity analyst Garrett Nelson, as reported by Bloomberg. According to him, the company’s model lineup has been stagnant for several years. However, in September, Nelson told MarketWatch that he doubted the Roadster would be able to significantly boost investor enthusiasm.

In the industry, such cars are referred to as “flagship models”; their main purpose is to showcase the company’s engineering capabilities and strengthen the brand, rather than generate significant sales, explains MarketWatch.

The presentation may also highlight the growing ties between Tesla and SpaceX. Some investors and analysts view the companies’ close collaboration as a sign that a merger is possible. Musk has previously said that the businesses overlap in many areas, including the Terafab project to build a semiconductor manufacturing facility, according to Bloomberg. “We’re seeing the companies grow closer and closer,” Nelson said. “If elements developed and designed by SpaceX are used in the Roadster’s design, that would be another step in that direction.”

Barclays analyst Dan Levy believes an announcement regarding a possible merger between Tesla and SpaceX could come before Tesla's annual shareholders' meeting, which is likely to take place in December.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock remains under pressure. On October 15, the company’s shares fell 1.3%, and since the start of 2026, they have lost about 20%, making them the worst-performing stock among the “Magnificent Seven.” Analysts’ opinions are divided: 22 advise buying (Buy and Overweight ratings), but just as many recommend holding (Hold), while five others believe the stock is better off sold (Sell and Underweight), according to MarketWatch.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor