Tesla has unveiled a new Roadster electric car capable of briefly rising into the air and performing flight-like manoeuvres. According to company CEO Elon Musk, mass production of the vehicle is planned to begin in 2028.

During the presentation, the car was guided over a specially curved ramp and performed a complete flip in mid-air under controlled conditions. It then adjusted its position using air thrusters and landed on all four wheels. The Roadster was also shown appearing to hover above a row of parked cars and a semi-trailer. Tesla described this feature as a “brief flight.”

The new vehicle is equipped with jet-powered air thrusters that use the force of compressed cold gas. According to the report, SpaceX also uses similar technology in some of its rockets.

The company says the car may also be capable of generating a suction-like effect to improve handling and potentially allow it to move along vertical surfaces.

During the presentation, the Roadster accelerated from zero to 60 miles per hour (approximately 97 km/h) in just 0.81 seconds by combining compressed air with an electric motor. The vehicle was remotely controlled during the demonstration.

Tesla first announced the second-generation Roadster in November 2017. Since then, its presentation schedule has been postponed several times. The latest demonstration took place in October 2026.

Information about the car’s flight-like capabilities and the planned production timeline is based on details presented by the company during the unveiling.