Elon Musk: Roadster Can Perform Stunts Autonomously and Build Texas Loop Track
Elon Musk stated that users can request the Roadster to autonomously perform all stunts demonstrated at events, as it will have perception capabilities; Tesla will also build a loop track crazier than Hot Wheels at its Texas headquarters for owners to test the Roadster.
This statement responds to the Roadster prototype demonstration held on October 15 at the SpaceX McGregor test site (near Waco). The prototype uses fans under the car to generate up to 2g of downforce, driving upside down along an inverted C-shaped ramp, and then completes aerial flips and landings using SpaceX cold gas thrusters; the entire demonstration was unmanned and remotely controlled for safety.
During the demonstration, the vehicle also used 10 cold gas thrusters (powered by approximately 600 liters, about 250 kg of compressed air stored in carbon fiber pressure vessels) to perform aerial barrel rolls and leap over several Tesla models, including the Semi and Cybertruck; it recorded a 0-60 mph acceleration of 0.81 seconds with thruster assistance. Tesla's Vice President of Engineering, Lars Moravy, stated that the fan system can generate 2g of downforce, while Musk claimed the vehicle can "essentially fly like a rocket" and perform "crazy gymnastics."
The production target is set for 2028. Current U.S. reservations are tiered: Performance requires a $50,000 deposit ($5,000 credit card + $45,000 wire transfer), Thrust configuration requires a $250,000 deposit and is limited to one per customer, and the Rocket version is invitation-only and may not be road legal; the reservation agreement clearly states that the vehicle is still in development, with no guarantee of delivery time or feasibility, and deposits are refundable.
Musk previously referred to the Roadster as "the last and best human-driven car" and emphasized that in the long term, it will be Tesla's only manually driven model; during the event, he mentioned that success "cannot be guaranteed," but after the successful demonstration, he further claimed it could complete rolls and stunts on command.
This statement is event-driven, directly related to the recently completed high-exposure prototype demonstration, driving a new wave of high deposits into Tesla; beneficiaries include early buyers with high-value reservations and Tesla's cash flow, while those under pressure include original 2017 deposit holders waiting nine years (the original Founders series reached $250,000) and traditional supercar brands relying on pure mechanical performance narratives, as performance definitions are shifting towards a hybrid path of thrusters + downforce + autonomous execution.
Source: Public Information
ABAB AI Insight
When the Roadster concept was released in November 2017, Musk attracted deposits with a claim of about 1.9 seconds for 0-60 mph and the SpaceX cold gas thruster "flying" package, with some Founders series directly charging $250,000; since then, the production timeline has been pushed back multiple times from 2020, and as of the 2025 shareholder meeting, it still pointed to 2027 or 2028, with multiple external demonstrations and internal development of the A71 thruster package running in parallel, forming a cycle of "concept → deposit → delayed demonstration."
In terms of funding, Tesla has locked in purchasing power through refundable deposits since 2017, reopening the $50,000 Performance deposit and $250,000 Thrust deposit in September 2026, having already raised funds before the demonstration; technically, it integrates SpaceX cold gas thrusters, carbon fiber pressure vessels, and Tesla fans/active aerodynamics, directing resources from rocket attitude control directly to the vehicle, motivated by the reuse of cross-company technology to lower validation costs, while using high upfront payments to support the development cycle.
Similar to Ferrari's XX Programme invitation-only track cars, the Roadster's Rocket version is also positioned as non-road legal and supervised use; similar to the Cybertruck, which maintained its pre-order queue after multiple delays, it is currently in a "demonstration-driven expansion" phase, not yet entering large-scale production control, more about maintaining brand and funding positions through high-visibility events.
Essentially, this represents a technological substitution: traditional supercars relying on mechanical power and aerodynamics for pricing power are being partially replaced by thruster-assisted acceleration, 2g downforce, and autonomous stunt execution; the mechanism is that the electric platform has saturated performance narratives, requiring aerospace-grade actuators to redefine the boundaries of "driving pleasure," while autonomous/perception narratives shift operational risks and regulatory responsibilities from the driver to the vehicle software, allowing high-risk stunts to be demonstrated at scale on closed tracks.
ABAB News · Cognitive Laws
Demonstration is financing, delivery is an option
Stunts are barriers, perception is exemption
Delays convert to cash flow, commitments convert to time leverage