The comment came after months of missed internal deadlines. In October 2025, Elon Musk said the company would demonstrate the Roadster on April 1, 2026 . That date was chosen intentionally — Musk later said it gave him "deniability" because it was April Fools' Day . The demonstration was then pushed to late May or early June, and later to August 2026 or later, according to an exclusive report from The Information citing four people familiar with the program .

Elon Musk's 'You Will Get Flying Cars' Post: August 12, 2026

Two days after von Holzhausen's appearance, Elon Musk posted a three-word reply on X to a user lamenting that "we were promised flying cars and all we got is infinite superintelligence": "You will get flying cars" .

The post did not explicitly name Tesla or the Roadster, but it was widely interpreted as referencing the long-discussed optional SpaceX package for the next-generation Roadster .

SpaceX A71 Cold-Gas Thruster System: The 'Flying Car' Tech

The Roadster's optional SpaceX package is not a flying car in the conventional sense. The system, internally codenamed A71 by Tesla and SpaceX engineers, consists of approximately 10 cold-gas rocket thrusters embedded in the car's body . These thrusters are designed to use compressed gas to provide brief lift-off or hovering capability, not sustained flight with wings or propellers .

Musk has described the system as using the thrusters to improve acceleration, braking, and cornering — with the added party trick of being able to "fly very briefly" . The thrusters would replace the rear seats with SpaceX air tanks .

Multiple reports confirm that Tesla and SpaceX are still fine-tuning the A71 system, which is the primary cause of the current delay to the public demonstration .

History of Delays Since 2017

The vehicle has missed every production and demonstration target since its 2017 debut . Even the "very soon" claim from August 2026 came after a similar "very soon" claim from von Holzhausen in June 2026 .

Texas Unveiling Event Expected Around August 2026

According to the report from The Information (cited by multiple outlets), Tesla is preparing for a public demonstration of the production Roadster in August 2026 or later, with the event expected to take place in Texas — where the car will also be manufactured . This would be the first public demonstration of the production-ready vehicle and its SpaceX thruster system. It is not the start of mass production .

Tesla has not officially confirmed the date or location .

Mass Production Projected 2027 or 2028

Despite holding $250,000 Founders Series deposits since 2017, multiple reports indicate that volume production is unlikely to begin before 2027 or 2028 . In November 2025, Musk told shareholders that production would not begin until 2027 or 2028 . Even if the August 2026 demonstration happens, analysts across outlets including Hypebeast, Electrek, and InsideEVs expect customer deliveries to remain years away .

The base price was originally set at $200,000, with the Founders Series at $250,000 . Deposits for the Founders Series have been held since 2017 without delivery .

The comment came after months of missed internal deadlines. In October 2025, Elon Musk said the company would demonstrate the Roadster on April 1, 2026 . That date was chosen intentionally — Musk later said it gave him "deniability" because it was April Fools' Day . The demonstration was then pushed to late May or early June, and later to August 2026 or later, according to an exclusive report from The Information citing four people familiar with the program .

Elon Musk's 'You Will Get Flying Cars' Post: August 12, 2026

Two days after von Holzhausen's appearance, Elon Musk posted a three-word reply on X to a user lamenting that "we were promised flying cars and all we got is infinite superintelligence": "You will get flying cars" .

The post did not explicitly name Tesla or the Roadster, but it was widely interpreted as referencing the long-discussed optional SpaceX package for the next-generation Roadster .

SpaceX A71 Cold-Gas Thruster System: The 'Flying Car' Tech

The Roadster's optional SpaceX package is not a flying car in the conventional sense. The system, internally codenamed A71 by Tesla and SpaceX engineers, consists of approximately 10 cold-gas rocket thrusters embedded in the car's body . These thrusters are designed to use compressed gas to provide brief lift-off or hovering capability, not sustained flight with wings or propellers .

Musk has described the system as using the thrusters to improve acceleration, braking, and cornering — with the added party trick of being able to "fly very briefly" . The thrusters would replace the rear seats with SpaceX air tanks .

Multiple reports confirm that Tesla and SpaceX are still fine-tuning the A71 system, which is the primary cause of the current delay to the public demonstration .

History of Delays Since 2017

The vehicle has missed every production and demonstration target since its 2017 debut . Even the "very soon" claim from August 2026 came after a similar "very soon" claim from von Holzhausen in June 2026 .

Texas Unveiling Event Expected Around August 2026

According to the report from The Information (cited by multiple outlets), Tesla is preparing for a public demonstration of the production Roadster in August 2026 or later, with the event expected to take place in Texas — where the car will also be manufactured . This would be the first public demonstration of the production-ready vehicle and its SpaceX thruster system. It is not the start of mass production .

Tesla has not officially confirmed the date or location .

Mass Production Projected 2027 or 2028

Despite holding $250,000 Founders Series deposits since 2017, multiple reports indicate that volume production is unlikely to begin before 2027 or 2028 . In November 2025, Musk told shareholders that production would not begin until 2027 or 2028 . Even if the August 2026 demonstration happens, analysts across outlets including Hypebeast, Electrek, and InsideEVs expect customer deliveries to remain years away .

The base price was originally set at $200,000, with the Founders Series at $250,000 . Deposits for the Founders Series have been held since 2017 without delivery .