Elon Musk unveiled a flying version of the Tesla Roadster at a livestreamed event on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Business Insider reported. He later posted on X,"Turns out the future does have flying cars."The Associated Press said he wrote it shortly after the event.Social media reacted soon after, with one user writing,"Nobody needed that, but please… take my money"Bateman @PatrickBatemnnLINKNobody needed that, but please… take my moneyMany others chimed in with praise.Dima Zeniuk @DimaZeniukLINKYou’ve done it AGAIN, Elon! This looks like something straight out of the future!J @JayTC53LINKThe roadster and Elon just changed the world...again.Abhinav Mishra 𝕏 @xAbhinavMishraLINKA Tesla that can FLY? 🤯 The future of automobiles is getting WILD! 🔥Others had some apprehensions.Stefan @stefancrncicLINKAs impressive as this is, is it really flying? To me this is more “catapulted into air and controlled fall”.Sato C 🪐 @satochashLINKTurns out it’s just a drone but bigger sizeWickster @wickster420LINKAwesome achievement but people can't even drive 😂Business Insider said the car flew off a ramp, flipped, and landed safely. AP reported that consumer production will not begin until 2028. Tesla's website lists three configurations, according to Business Insider.More about Elon Musk's flying Roadster demoThe event took place at SpaceX's Texas rocket testing and development center, AP reported. Tesla executives said they "borrowed" some SpaceX technology. Elon Musk called the car a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX engineers, per Business Insider. He had promoted the event on X beforehand, saying it could be a candidate for the greatest product demo of all time.In the demonstration, the car climbed a huge curved ramp until it was upside down. It then left the ramp, flipped and landed safely, Business Insider said. Elon Musk said,"Well, it worked."Lars Moravy, Tesla's vice president of vehicle engineering, declared that flying cars are real.Accounts of the lift system differ. Musk said the car uses an ultra-high-pressure air tank, with altitude control thrusters and main thrusters at the rear. He said it can fly like a rocket and do rolls, Business Insider reported. AP described cold gas thrusters and a "multi-mode" suction system that can fling the car briefly into the air and spin it.Musk said the demonstration was technically autonomous "to make sure we don't kill anyone," AP reported. Tesla also showed a recorded run from zero to 60 mph in .81 seconds, Business Insider said.More about the flying Tesla RoadsterTesla's website lists performance, thrust, and rocket versions, Business Insider reported. The performance trim needs a $5,000 deposit now and $45,000 more within ten days. The thrust version requires a $250,000 deposit. The rocket trim appeared to be invite-only, the outlet said. AP reported that Tesla was taking rocket reservations on Friday morning, with fine print offering no delivery guarantee.Tesla shared specifications on X, per Business Insider. The car has two seats, about 300 miles of range and a top speed above 230 mph. The rocket-equipped "air ready" version seats one. AP said Tesla set no price. Elon Musk said consumer production starts in 2028.Road legality remains unclear. Business Insider noted that the door latches appear mechanical and the car appears to lack side-view mirrors. Asked whether it is street legal, Musk replied,"Depends on your street."Elon Musk said it will be Tesla's only manually driven car.The original Roadster launched in 2008 and ended production in 2012, Business Insider said. Musk unveiled the second generation in November 2017, promising a 1.9-second zero-to-60 time. Tesla began ramping up its design cycle in summer 2025, the outlet added.