Tesla’s Dramatic Unveiling Joins DeLorean Racing and Alef’s Drive-and-Fly Car in a Transforming Industry

Racing
Written By Jordan Gold

In a spectacle that blurred the line between automotive engineering and aerospace, Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday night, Oct. 15, unveiled the long-awaited second-generation Roadster at SpaceX’s rocket development and testing facility in McGregor, Texas [1][2]. The new Roadster demonstrated short airborne hops, midair flips, and a leap over a line of parked Tesla vehicles using cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX [3][4][11]. Musk declared, “Flying cars are real,” as the prototype climbed a curved ramp, hung upside down using a fan-driven suction system, launched into the air, and landed with thruster assistance [3][4]. Afterward he posted, “Turns out the future does have flying cars” [7]. Nine years of delays, and the thing came off the ramp upside down and stuck the landing. Strange times.

0.81 sTesla’s own timing of a thruster-assisted 0–60 mph demo run [6][4]
2028Tesla’s stated Roadster production start [2][4]
1,000thlogged flight for Alef, flown over an older Tesla Roadster [10]
Nov. 2026DeLorean Airspeeder Team race debut [8]

Tesla’s flying Roadster

The demonstration was controlled remotely, in Musk’s words “to make sure we don’t kill anyone” [3]. It highlighted a Tesla-timed 0-to-60 mph run of 0.81 seconds with the rear thrusters boosting acceleration [6][4], with production targeted for 2028 [2]. Claim That 0.81 is Tesla’s number from its own demo, not an independent test of a production car.

Tesla plans three versions [5][2][4]:

  • Performance: “road ready,” two seats, active aero and the suction system, no thrusters.
  • Thrust: “race ready,” two seats, adds rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters for 0–60 in under a second. Listed as a limited release.
  • Rocket: “air ready,” a single seat and the full flight system that did the flips and jumps. Invite only, and Tesla’s site says it is not approved for public road use.

Tesla didn’t announce prices at the event [4][2], but the reservation page tells you plenty. The Performance takes a $5,000 reservation fee with another $45,000 due within 10 days, $50,000 total. The Thrust takes $5,000 up front and $245,000 within 10 days, $250,000 total. The Rocket isn’t open for reservations at all [2]. Musk admitted the prototype is “not necessarily a safety optimised car but it takes the fun meter to 11,” and said, “I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions” [3]. At least he’s honest about it.

DeLorean goes racing in the sky

Just days earlier, on Oct. 13, the revived DeLorean Motor Company announced at TechCrunch Disrupt that it will field the United States team in the Airspeeder International Series, which bills itself as the world’s first racing series for electric flying cars. That makes DeLorean the first American constructor in flying-car racing [8][9]. The series races eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft in three dimensions through courses marked by virtual gates [8][9].

The DeLorean Airspeeder Team debuts when the 2026–27 season opens in November 2026, flying the series’ standardized Mk3C race aircraft with DeLorean-designed styling and branding. For the 2027–28 season, DeLorean will design its aircraft with student engineering teams, including UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech [8][9]. The move leans hard on DeLorean’s Back to the Future flying-car legend, while putting the name on a grid built around electric propulsion, flight control and AI-enabled safety systems [8][9]. “People have pictured a DeLorean in the sky for forty years,” said chief brand officer Cameron Wynne. “We decided it was time to stop picturing it” [8]. Great Scott, indeed.

Alef flies over the old Roadster

Meanwhile, the same Thursday, California-based Alef Aeronautics marked its 1,000th logged flight by releasing video of its electric flying car lifting off and flying over an original Tesla Roadster and a Cybertruck [10][11]. Alef’s CEO Jim Dukhovny welcomed Tesla “to the flying car race; we’ve been here alone for eleven years” [10]. Note Alef didn’t say which airframe flew in the video. Its earlier public flight video, over a Cybertruck, used its Model Zero Ultralight, not the Model A it takes orders for [10].

The Model A is designed to be certified as a low-speed vehicle on roads, which caps it at about 25 mph on pavement, and it still needs NHTSA approval to drive on public roads [14]. For flight it lifts off vertically on eight propellers inside a mesh body, then turns on its side so the body forms the two wings of a biplane while the cabin swivels to keep the pilot facing forward [13][10]. The company says it holds more than 3,600 pre-orders worth about $1 billion [10]. It began hand-building its first customer vehicles in December 2025, expects limited deliveries for testing “in the real-world environment, under very controlled conditions” by the end of 2026, and plans to ramp up production in 2027 [10][12]. Pricing starts at $299,999 [10][11]. The Model A received an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in 2023, which the FAA said allows limited purposes including exhibition, research and development [14].

Industry impact and public availability

These developments signal accelerating momentum in the advanced air mobility sector. Tesla’s high-profile stunt draws mainstream attention and capital, DeLorean’s racing entry pushes technology and public acceptance through motorsport, and Alef pushes closer to dual-mode consumer vehicles. Collectively they could ease urban congestion, enable point-to-point travel, and create new markets in personal aviation, air taxis, and logistics, while raising hard questions about airspace management, noise, energy use, and who actually gets access.

Widespread public availability remains years away for most buyers. Tesla says Roadster production starts in 2028, with true flying capability limited to the invite-only Rocket [2][4]. Alef aims for early customer deliveries under controlled conditions by late 2026, expanding in 2027 [10]. Racing series like Airspeeder will refine the technology, but a race grid isn’t your driveway. My read: the first owners will be wealthy buyers and specialized operators, and broader access depends on prices coming down, infrastructure (vertiports, charging) getting built, and the rules maturing through the late 2020s and into the 2030s.

Pilot licensing and FAA requirements

Operating these vehicles falls under evolving FAA rules for powered-lift aircraft and advanced air mobility. On Oct. 22, 2024, the FAA issued its final rule on how pilots and instructors qualify and train for powered-lift, aircraft that “have characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters,” along with operating rules such as minimum safe altitudes and required visibility [15]. It was published Nov. 21, 2024, as Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 120, codified at 14 CFR Part 194, a ten-year SFAR [16][17]. Pilots still need a pilot certificate with a powered-lift category rating, and a pilot in command of a powered-lift must hold a type rating for that aircraft [24]. Part 194 also sets alternate experience pathways for pilots who already hold at least a commercial certificate with airplane and instrument-airplane ratings, or helicopter and instrument-helicopter ratings [18][17].

For lighter aircraft, the 2025 MOSAIC rule, published July 24, 2025, rewrote the light-sport category with performance-based criteria [19][20]. Manufacturers can now build light-sport aircraft that include rotorcraft and powered-lift, limited to two seats and two occupants for helicopters and powered-lift, certificated on a manufacturer’s statement of compliance with consensus standards rather than an FAA type certificate [19]. The sport-pilot changes took effect Oct. 22, 2025, and the light-sport aircraft certification changes took effect July 24, 2026 [20]. But here’s the catch: the FAA did not extend powered-lift privileges to sport pilots, citing “the complexity of those operations and the ongoing development of that new technology.” Instead, the FAA points pilots to a powered-lift category rating at the private pilot level or above [19].

Then there’s the ultralight lane. Under Part 103, an ultralight carries a single occupant, for recreation or sport only, with no airworthiness certificate. If powered, it must weigh less than 254 pounds empty (not counting floats and emergency safety devices), carry no more than 5 U.S. gallons of fuel, be capable of no more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight (about 63 mph), and have a power-off stall speed of no more than 24 knots [21]. It flies between sunrise and sunset, with a 30-minute twilight allowance if it carries an anticollision light and stays in uncontrolled airspace, and never over a congested area of a city, town or settlement or an open-air assembly of people [21]. In exchange, the operator needs no airman or medical certificate, and the vehicle needs no registration [21].

Commercial air-taxi operations sit at the other end. The aircraft needs FAA type certification, which the FAA handles for powered-lift under its own guidance [23]. The operator needs a certificate to fly commuter or on-demand operations under Part 135 [22], and has to follow the Part 194 operating rules for powered-lift [17]. These vehicles must integrate into the National Airspace System alongside traditional aircraft [18]. Tesla’s thruster-assisted hops, Alef’s dual-mode design, and racing eVTOLs will each face tailored scrutiny. Not every current demonstration is approved for public roads or unrestricted flight. Tesla’s Rocket isn’t approved for public roads [4], and Alef’s FAA certificate covers exhibition and R&D [14].

As prototypes become production vehicles, the industry stands at a pivotal moment: engineering ambition is outpacing regulatory and infrastructure readiness. Thursday’s Tesla flip, DeLorean’s racing entry, and Alef’s ongoing flights mark the move from science fiction to measurable progress, yet everyday flying cars for the average driver remain a carefully regulated horizon. The machines will keep getting louder and stranger. What’s ours to decide is whether we judge them by the stunt or by what they can actually do.

Key takeaways

  1. Tesla showed the new Roadster Oct. 15 at SpaceX McGregor, flipping and jumping on cold-gas thrusters. Production is targeted for 2028 [2][3].
  2. Only the invite-only, single-seat Rocket flies, and it isn’t approved for public roads. Reservations run $50,000 for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust [2][4].
  3. DeLorean is the first American constructor in Airspeeder, racing a Mk3C from November 2026 [8].
  4. Alef logged its 1,000th flight and claims 3,600+ pre-orders at $299,999 each, with limited test deliveries by the end of 2026 [10].
  5. Sport pilots can’t fly powered-lift under MOSAIC. Ultralights under Part 103 need no license but carry one person, under 254 lb empty and no faster than 55 knots [19][21].

Sources

  1. Tesla on X, “Roadster event streaming live this Thursday at 7:55pm CST,” Oct. 13, 2026 (Oct. 14 UTC): https://x.com/Tesla/status/2110165104713183485
  2. WIRED, “The Tesla Roadster 2 Is Here—and It Flies,” Oct. 15, 2026: https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-roadster-2-launch/
  3. The Guardian, “Elon Musk reveals ‘world’s first flying car’ at Tesla event,” Oct. 16, 2026: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/16/elon-musk-reveals-worlds-first-flying-car-spacex
  4. Road & Track, “The Air-Assisted Tesla Roadster Flies in Demo, Hits 0-60 In 0.8 Seconds,” Oct. 15, 2026: https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a74151425/the-air-assisted-tesla-roadster-flies-in-demo-hits-0-60-in-08-seconds/
  5. Tesla on X, Roadster “Configurations” post, Oct. 15, 2026: https://x.com/Tesla/status/2110905588402295283
  6. Tesla on X, “0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds,” Oct. 16, 2026: https://x.com/Tesla/status/2110963770763649487
  7. Elon Musk on X, “Turns out the future does have flying cars,” Oct. 15, 2026: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2110913107094606330
  8. Airspeeder, “DeLorean takes to the sky … as the DeLorean Airspeeder Team,” press release, Oct. 13, 2026: https://airspeeder.com/news/delorean-takes-to-the-sky-racing-at-the-pinnacle-of-flying-car-motorsport-as-the-delorean-airspeeder-team
  9. Car and Driver, “The Famous DeLorean Brand Is Getting into Electric Flying-Car Racing,” Oct. 14, 2026: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a74133768/delorean-airspeeder-electric-flying-car-racing-series/
  10. Electrek, “Alef welcomes Tesla to the electric flying car race by flying over the Roadster,” Oct. 15, 2026: https://electrek.co/2026/10/15/alefs-electric-flying-car-flies-over-tesla-roadster-video/
  11. Gizmodo, “Alef Trolls Tesla With Video of Its Car Flying Over a Roadster,” Oct. 16, 2026: https://gizmodo.com/alef-trolls-tesla-with-video-of-its-car-flying-over-a-roadster-2000826973
  12. Interesting Engineering, “Video: Alef flying car flies over Tesla Roadster as company marks 1,000th flight,” Oct. 16, 2026: https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/alef-flying-car-flies-over-tesla-roadster
  13. BBC News, “The flying car that could turn into a biplane,” Oct. 21, 2022: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63325341
  14. CNN Business, “A flying car prototype just got an airworthiness certificate from the FAA,” July 3, 2023: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/03/tech/flying-car-faa
  15. FAA, “With New Rule, FAA is Ready for Air Travel of the Future,” Oct. 22, 2024: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/new-rule-faa-ready-air-travel-future
  16. Federal Register, “Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations…,” final rule, Nov. 21, 2024: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/21/2024-24886/integration-of-powered-lift-pilot-certification-and-operations-miscellaneous-amendments-related-to
  17. eCFR, 14 CFR Part 194, SFAR No. 120, Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Training; Operations Requirements: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-L/part-194
  18. FAA, Powered Lift Part 194 SFAR Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.faa.gov/air-taxis/FAQ
  19. Federal Register, “Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification” (MOSAIC), final rule, July 24, 2025: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/24/2025-13972/modernization-of-special-airworthiness-certification
  20. FAA, Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC): https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/MOSAIC
  21. eCFR, 14 CFR Part 103, Ultralight Vehicles: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-103
  22. eCFR, 14 CFR 135.1, Applicability: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-135/subpart-A/section-135.1
  23. FAA, Advisory Circular 21.17-4, Type Certification of Powered-Lift (PDF): https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_21.17-4.pdf
  24. eCFR, 14 CFR 61.31, Type rating requirements: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/subpart-A/section-61.31

All links checked Oct. 18, 2026. Event details come from Tesla, Airspeeder and Alef announcements and from news coverage; performance figures, order counts and timelines are the companies’ own claims. FAA rule summaries are simplified, so read the linked regulation before you act on it. LOR has no affiliation with any company named. Not legal, aviation or investment advice.

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