---
title: "Tesla Roadster Production Version: Electric Car with SpaceX Rocket Thrusters and Vacuum Downforce System"
description: "Tesla has unveiled the production Roadster with a vacuum downforce system and SpaceX rocket thrusters. The car demonstrated flight and landing at a presentation featuring the Optimus robot in the driver's seat. Production starts in 2028."
date: 2026-10-16T10:48:26.371Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/tesla-roadster-production-version-spacex-thrusters
tags: [tesla, roadster, spacex, electric-vehicle, optimus-robot, auto-industry]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Tesla Roadster Production Version: Electric Car with SpaceX Rocket Thrusters and Vacuum Downforce System

![Front view of the futuristic white Tesla Roadster sports electric car in a dark studio](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/tesla-roadster-serijnaya-versiya-raketnye-sopla-spacex/tesla-roadster-serijnaya-versiya-raketnye-sopla-spacex-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Tesla unveiled the production version of the Roadster 9 years after the 2017 concept
- The car is equipped with a vacuum downforce system and SpaceX cold-gas thrusters for jumps and flight
- During the presentation, stunts were performed by the Optimus robot in fully automated mode
- Production is scheduled for 2028, with reservations open starting at $50,000
- The Thrust package with the downforce system costs $245,000, while the Rocket version is available by invitation only

Nine years after presenting the concept, Tesla has unveiled the production version of the Roadster — an electric car that, according to the company, is capable not only of accelerating to ultra-high speeds but also performing stunt maneuvers unavailable to any production vehicle. At the presentation, the car drove onto a C-shaped ramp, stopped parallel to the ground, then jumped off the top of the structure and hovered in the air before a soft landing. The driver's seat during the stunt was occupied by an Optimus humanoid robot, yet all maneuvers were executed in a fully automated programmed mode — human intervention was not required.

### Vacuum Downforce System: How the Electric Car Holds Upside Down

The key technology providing the Roadster's unique capabilities is the vacuum downforce system located beneath the car's floor. A system of fans and grounding extracts air from under the body, creating powerful downforce that holds the electric car in an inverted position even when stationary. Essentially, the car "sticks" to the surface through pressure differential, enabling maneuvers impossible for any other production vehicle. This very system was demonstrated on the C-shaped ramp during the presentation: the Roadster stopped sideways, held exclusively by vacuum downforce.

### SpaceX Rocket Technologies in a Production Car

Soft landings and controlled jumps in the Roadster are handled by maneuverable electric cold-gas thrusters developed based on SpaceX technologies. These thrusters make micro-adjustments to the trajectory in fractions of a second, ensuring stability in flight and precision during landing. Tesla engineers integrated the rocket engines into the body design so that they do not disrupt the car's aerodynamic profile in standard driving mode. The cold-gas system runs on compressed gas, eliminating liquid fuel use and making it safe for urban operation within manufacturer-defined limits.

### Production and Delivery Timelines

The launch of production for the updated Tesla Roadster is scheduled for 2028. The company has already opened reservations for the new model. The basic order requires a first deposit of $5,000, plus an additional $45,000 within the first ten days after reservations open. Thus, the minimum entry price to join the queue is $50,000, while the full price of the car including basic trim is not publicly disclosed and appears to be formed individually for each customer.

### Optional Packages: From "Thrust" to "Rocket"

Innovative stabilization and acceleration systems are not included in the Roadster's base configuration. The "Thrust" package includes the vacuum ground downforce system and acceleration cold-gas thrusters, costing an additional $245,000 USD. The "Rocket" version is equipped with a full-fledged flight system and will be available exclusively by special invitation from the company — meaning Tesla does not plan to sell it openly. The division into three trim levels emphasizes the Roadster's positioning not just as an electric vehicle, but as a demonstration platform combining advanced developments from Tesla and SpaceX in a single product.

### Context: Nine Years from Concept to Production

The Roadster concept was first shown in 2017, and since then the car has become one of Tesla's most anticipated yet heavily procrastinated projects. Numerous schedule delays, a lack of public prototypes, and unconfirmed production volumes over several years sparked skepticism among analysts. The presentation of the production version in 2026, accompanied by stunt demonstrations featuring the Optimus robot, served as the company's response to years of waiting. Nevertheless, actual customer deliveries are expected only in 2028, leaving nearly two years to refine production prototypes and certify non-standard systems, including vacuum downforce and cold-gas thrusters.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Летучий" суперкар с ракетными технологиями: Tesla показала долгожданный Roadster](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/letyuchiy-superkar-raketnimi-tehnologiyami-1792146139.html) - Single source. Internally consistent, but describes extraordinary technologies (vacuum downforce, flight) without independent verification. Dates and prices are consistent across paragraphs.

## FAQ

### When will Tesla Roadster production begin?

Serial production is scheduled to launch in 2028. Reservations are already open.

### How much does it cost to reserve a Tesla Roadster?

The basic order requires a $5,000 initial deposit and an additional $45,000 within the first 10 days, totaling $50,000 to enter the queue.

### What is included in the Thrust package and how much does it cost?

The Thrust package includes the vacuum ground downforce system and acceleration cold-gas thrusters. The price is an additional $245,000 USD above the base price.

### Who drove the car during the presentation?

The Optimus humanoid robot occupied the driver's seat. All maneuvers were executed in a fully automated programmed mode without human participation.

### What is the Rocket version and who can get it?

The Rocket version is equipped with a full flight system and will be available exclusively by special invitation from Tesla. Open sales of this modification are not planned.