SMS
The reservation fee for the Performance version is $50,000, and for the Thrust version, it is $250,000; the single-seat Rocket version is available only by invitation. Musk stated that production will begin in 2028.
Tesla's website states that this "flying" version is not approved for use on public roads, and there are currently no reports of FAA or road safety approvals.
Almost everyone is talking about it, but almost no one can own it in the short term—if they ever can at all.
Real life, baby." — Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
The trick to making this car "fly" is cold-gas thrusters, which essentially expel compressed air through nozzles instead of burning rocket fuel. According to Lars Moravy, Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, ten thrusters are connected to 600 liters of compressed air, and Tesla has also leveraged certain SpaceX technologies to achieve this.
On paper, this vehicle has a top speed exceeding 230 miles per hour, a range of over 300 miles, and accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under one second. The on-stage timing recorded 0.81 seconds, while Tesla lists a time of less than 0.59 seconds for the single-seat Rocket.
Tesla has not yet announced official pricing for any version, but its reservation page indicates that the two-seat Performance model requires a $50,000 payment, the Thrust model requires a $250,000 payment, a $5,000 deposit is due upfront, and the remaining balance must be paid within 10 days.
Rocket is a version built around a complete flight system, designed to accommodate one person, has no listed price, and is available only by invitation. Musk stated that production of this version will begin in 2028.
Therefore, to get this car, you need to be one of the few selected individuals.
Tesla's official website also states that the flying version is not approved for use on public roads; when asked whether the vehicle could legally be driven on roads, Musk replied, "It depends on your street." There have been no reports of approval from the FAA or road safety authorities, so even if you receive an invitation, you won't be driving it to work.
To legalize a "flying car," at least two regulatory agencies would likely be required: U.S. automakers can self-certify that vehicles meet federal safety standards, while aircraft require an FAA airworthiness certificate. The agency states that certifying a new model could take 5 to 9 years.
There are few historically documented cases of flying cars. One of the closest precedents is Alef Aeronautics, whose Model A prototype received an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate in June 2023, permitting flight testing and representing a step toward type certification.
Therefore, you will likely also need a special license to drive a car that is also considered an airplane.
Hovering presents another challenge: a 2021 paper in Joule found that electric aircraft require 500 to 900 watts per kilogram for hovering, compared to 150 to 350 watts per kilogram during cruise.
In simple terms, the battery must release energy faster than during normal flight. Tesla’s cold air solution bypasses this issue, which is likely why the demonstration featured jumps and flips rather than point-to-point flight.