Tesla’s New Roadster Can Thrust Itself Into the Air, but Buyers May Have to Wait Until 2028
Tesla has unveiled a redesigned version of its long-awaited Roadster electric sports car, featuring rocket-style thrusters that can propel the vehicle into the air during a demonstration. However, despite the dramatic showcase, consumers may have to wait until 2028 before production begins.
The vehicle was presented at an event at a SpaceX testing facility in Texas on October 15. The demonstration featured the Roadster climbing an inverted ramp, manoeuvring in mid-air and landing back on the ground using its specialised propulsion technology.
The reveal marks a significant new chapter for a vehicle first announced in 2017. Its development has faced repeated delays, leaving Tesla enthusiasts waiting years for a production version.
How Does Tesla’s New Roadster Lift Off the Ground?
The new Roadster uses cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The technology releases compressed gas to generate short bursts of thrust, allowing the vehicle to perform unusual manoeuvres.
During the demonstration, the car travelled along a specially designed ramp, moved upside down and then performed an aerial rotation before returning to the ground. It was also shown jumping over other Tesla vehicles during the event.
Tesla has also highlighted a suction-based system that helps the vehicle maintain grip during parts of the demonstration. Together, these features make the Roadster considerably different from conventional electric sports cars.
However, the demonstration should not be confused with a flying car designed for ordinary travel. The displayed manoeuvres took place under controlled conditions, and the technology has not been established as a practical way to fly over public roads.
Production Is Not Expected Until 2028
Despite the attention generated by the unveiling, the Roadster is not expected to reach consumers immediately. Musk said production is planned to begin in 2028.
Tesla first introduced its next-generation Roadster in 2017 and initially expected deliveries much earlier. Subsequent delays pushed back the programme several times, making the latest announcement important for customers who have been waiting for the vehicle.
The company has not provided a confirmed consumer delivery schedule in the latest unveiling reports. The final production specifications, pricing and availability will be important details to watch as development continues.
The gap between a demonstration prototype and a commercially available car also means buyers should wait for confirmed specifications before making purchasing decisions based on the vehicle's advertised capabilities.
Is the Flying Feature Legal on Public Roads?
One of the biggest questions concerns whether the Roadster's airborne capability will be available to ordinary drivers.
Tesla's website states that the Rocket version's airborne feature is not approved for public-road use. That distinction is important because a technology demonstrated at a private facility does not automatically meet the safety and regulatory requirements for use on public highways.
Road vehicles must comply with applicable safety standards, while any system capable of lifting a car into the air would raise additional engineering and regulatory questions.
The company has not demonstrated that drivers will be able to use the airborne feature during normal road journeys. For now, the demonstration is best understood as a showcase of specialised technology rather than evidence that flying cars are ready for everyday commuting.
Tesla and SpaceX Bring Their Technologies Together
The Roadster project highlights the relationship between Tesla's electric-vehicle engineering and SpaceX's aerospace expertise. The use of cold-gas thrusters brings rocket-inspired technology into a high-performance road-car project.
Tesla has also promoted the Roadster's acceleration capabilities. During the unveiling, the vehicle was presented as capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in approximately one second. This is a company demonstration claim and should be distinguished from independently verified performance testing of a final production vehicle.
The latest reveal gives Tesla a high-profile vehicle to showcase while the company continues developing its wider electric-vehicle and autonomous-driving ambitions.
What Buyers Should Know
The new Roadster has generated attention because of its unusual ability to perform airborne manoeuvres, but several questions remain unanswered. Production is planned for 2028, final specifications and pricing need confirmation, and the Rocket version's airborne feature is not approved for public-road use.
For prospective buyers, the key milestone will be the arrival of a production-ready vehicle with confirmed performance figures, delivery dates and regulatory status.
Until then, Tesla's latest Roadster remains a highly ambitious sports-car project whose most eye-catching feature has been demonstrated under controlled conditions—not a flying car ready for everyday use.
US Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Watchdog’s Fight for Elon Musk’s DOGE Records
The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Trump administration’s appeal in a lawsuit seeking access to records from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the government initiative initially led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The case was brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a government watchdog group seeking documents about DOGE’s operations during the early months of President Donald Trump’s second term. The dispute centres on whether DOGE should be treated as a federal agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The Supreme Court’s decision, announced on October 13, 2026, means the justices will review the administration’s challenge to lower-court proceedings that sought to establish what records DOGE must provide. The court has not yet issued a final ruling on the underlying disclosure dispute.
What Records Is the Watchdog Seeking?
CREW filed a FOIA request in early 2025 seeking information about DOGE, including its organisational structure and financial disclosures. The group argues that DOGE exercised substantial independent authority and should therefore be subject to federal public-records requirements.
FOIA generally gives the public a way to request records held by federal agencies, subject to statutory exemptions. Whether a particular office falls within the law’s definition of an agency can determine what information must be disclosed.
CREW’s lawsuit seeks access to records that could shed light on DOGE’s structure, operations and decision-making. The case is not itself a ruling on whether the initiative’s spending or staffing decisions were lawful.
Why Is the Trump Administration Challenging the Case?
The administration argues that DOGE functioned as a presidential advisory body rather than an independent federal agency covered by FOIA. It has challenged lower-court orders requiring the government to provide records and permit questioning of a DOGE official.
The dispute also involves how far courts can go in ordering evidence-gathering to determine whether a presidential advisory office is subject to public-records law. The administration contends that the lower-court proceedings raise separation-of-powers concerns.
The Supreme Court’s decision to take up the appeal puts those legal questions before the justices. It does not mean the court has already decided whether the requested records must be released.
A Case the Supreme Court Has Encountered Before
This is the second time the Supreme Court has intervened in the broader dispute over CREW’s request for DOGE records.
In June 2025, the court limited a lower court’s broad order requiring the government to produce DOGE-related material. The litigation subsequently continued over the scope of further proceedings and the government’s obligations under public-records law.
A federal district judge had previously concluded that DOGE likely qualified as an agency covered by FOIA and ordered steps to obtain information. An appeals court upheld aspects of the lower-court proceedings, prompting the administration to seek Supreme Court review.
What Is DOGE?
The Department of Government Efficiency was established during Trump’s second administration in early 2025 with a stated focus on reducing government spending, workforce costs and regulations. Musk initially led the initiative before leaving his government role in May 2025.
DOGE became a focus of debate over the scale of executive power, federal employment and access to government data. The current Supreme Court case, however, is specifically about the legal process for determining whether records must be disclosed—not a direct assessment of every DOGE policy or claimed saving.
What Happens Next?
The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case, with a decision anticipated by the end of June 2027, according to Reuters reporting. The precise argument date has not yet been announced.
The outcome could affect how the government’s public-records obligations apply to presidential advisory offices and how watchdog organisations pursue information about their activities.
For now, the justices have agreed to consider the administration’s appeal. Whether CREW ultimately gains access to the requested DOGE records remains unresolved.
Starlink Gets Green Light in Venezuela: Elon Musk’s Satellite Internet Wins Nationwide Approval
Venezuela has officially authorised Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to operate nationwide, opening a new market for SpaceX as the company continues expanding its global connectivity business.
The country’s interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, authorised the service under an agreement with the US-based company, the Venezuelan government announced on October 9. The approval allows Starlink to provide satellite internet services across Venezuela under the country’s regulatory framework.
Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL), granted a general operating authorisation and seven concessions to SpaceX VZ, S.C.A., the company’s local entity, according to the regulator’s announcement reported by Spanish news agency EFE.
The decision formally establishes Starlink’s operations in a country where reliable connectivity has been a concern, particularly in areas affected by damage to traditional communications infrastructure.
Why Venezuela Approved Starlink
The approval follows cooperation between Starlink and Venezuelan authorities after a double earthquake on June 24, 2026, severely affected terrestrial telephone and internet infrastructure in the coastal state of La Guaira.
According to CONATEL, temporary permissions had previously allowed technical tests and connectivity support during the emergency. EFE reported that Starlink distributed more than 1,600 connectivity kits in Venezuela to support rescue teams, medical personnel and humanitarian organisations in affected areas, citing information from the US Embassy in Caracas.
The emergency cooperation helped demonstrate how satellite-based connectivity could support communications when conventional networks are damaged or unavailable.
The latest authorisation moves the service beyond temporary emergency arrangements and establishes a formal regulatory basis for commercial operations.
How Starlink Satellite Internet Works
Starlink is operated by SpaceX and uses a network of satellites in low Earth orbit to deliver internet connectivity to ground-based user terminals.
Unlike conventional broadband services that depend on fibre-optic cables or mobile towers reaching every user, satellite internet can provide connections in locations where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. Customers generally need compatible equipment and an appropriate service plan.
The technology can be useful for rural communities, businesses, remote facilities and emergency-response teams. It may also provide an additional connectivity option when existing networks experience outages.
However, nationwide regulatory approval does not automatically mean every location will have immediate access. Actual availability can depend on service rollout, equipment supply, pricing, network capacity and local operating conditions.
What the Approval Means for Venezuela
The decision gives Starlink a formal route to serve customers across Venezuela, subject to local regulation and implementation.
For households and businesses, satellite broadband could offer another option where conventional internet connections are unreliable or unavailable. Organisations operating in remote areas may also benefit from an additional way to maintain communications.
The extent of the impact will depend on the company's commercial launch plans, subscription costs and the availability of user equipment. The government has not provided a complete public breakdown of consumer pricing or a detailed nationwide rollout timetable in the initial announcement.
Starlink's operations will remain subject to Venezuela's telecommunications rules and regulatory supervision.
A New Step in Starlink’s Global Expansion
SpaceX has expanded Starlink beyond residential broadband into services for businesses, aviation, maritime operators and government users. The company has continued to increase its satellite network and customer base as demand grows for connectivity outside traditional terrestrial networks.
Venezuela's approval adds another market to that expansion. It also illustrates how satellite communications can become particularly important during natural disasters and other emergencies, when damage to ground infrastructure can disrupt essential services.
For Venezuela, the next stage will be translating regulatory approval into accessible, reliable service for customers. For Starlink, the opportunity will depend on how quickly it can establish operations and meet demand while complying with local requirements.
Musk Says SpaceXAI Will Be Renamed SpaceXSI
Elon Musk said on Sunday that his artificial intelligence company SpaceXAI will be renamed SpaceXSI, adopting the term “Super Intelligence” instead of “Artificial Intelligence.”
Musk confirmed the change in a post on X after a user asked whether SpaceXAI would be renamed SpaceXSI. He replied that the company would make the change.
Musk Backs ‘Super Intelligence’
Musk also wrote that there would be “No more AI” and described SI as a better term.
The planned rebranding follows a push by US President Donald Trump to replace the term “Artificial Intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” in federal communications. Trump signed an executive order on September 29 directing US agencies to use the new terminology where legally permitted.
SpaceXAI’s Recent Rebranding
The announcement comes only months after Musk’s AI business underwent another major change.
SpaceX acquired xAI earlier this year, bringing its AI operations under the SpaceX umbrella. The company was subsequently renamed SpaceXAI in July.
The latest proposed change would therefore mark another rebranding of Musk’s AI business within a short period.
No Timeline Announced
Musk did not provide a specific date for when the SpaceXAI name will officially change.
As of Sunday, the company’s branding and social media presence still used the SpaceXAI name, according to reports.
The move signals Musk’s support for the growing “Super Intelligence” terminology in the US technology sector, although the broader technology industry continues to widely use the established term artificial intelligence.
Source attribution: Reuters, Forbes and The Economic Times.