OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reacts to Elon Musk’s flying car Tesla Roadster; says ‘looks quite amazing’- Moneycontrol.com
Sam Altman has reacted to Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster prototype, which appeared to perform an airborne flip using rocket-style thrusters during a demonstration, calling the electric sports car “quite amazing.”
October 16, 2026 / 22:45 IST
Tesla flying cars
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reacted to Tesla’s demonstration of its next-generation Roadster, which appeared to perform an airborne manoeuvre using rocket-style thrusters. Altman praised the vehicle in a post on X, responding to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s showcase of the long-awaited electric sports car.
Reacting to the Tesla Roadster that can 'fly' Altman wrote on X: “Wow the new roadster looks quite amazing, good job”.
The comment comes after Tesla shared footage of the Roadster prototype performing a dramatic stunt during a livestreamed event on Thursday night. The demonstration showed the vehicle approaching a curved ramp, launching into the air and appearing to complete a flip before landing. White gas could be seen escaping from beneath the car during the manoeuvre.
Wow the new roadster looks quite amazing, good job @elonmusk— Sam Altman (@sama) October 16, 2026
Tesla Roadster's rocket-powered demonstration
Musk has indicated that the next-generation Roadster is being developed through a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX. The proposed system is expected to use an ultra-high-pressure air tank, altitude-control thrusters and larger thrusters positioned at the rear of the vehicle to enable lift and aerial manoeuvres.
The demonstration has drawn attention online, although the footage does not establish whether the displayed capabilities will be available in the production version. The vehicle's apparent airborne movement also differs from the concept of a conventional flying car designed for sustained flight.
Musk has maintained that the Roadster will remain a viable road car. However, questions remain about the practical application and safety of the proposed thruster technology on public roads.
Tesla Roadster: Expected range, speed and variants
Tesla has indicated that the electric sports car could offer a range of around 300 miles and a top speed exceeding 230 mph. During the event, a recorded video also showed the vehicle accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in 0.81 seconds. This performance claim has not been independently verified based on the information presented at the showcase.
Do a kickflip! https://t.co/DJ1Bq1yu8m — Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2026
The company has outlined three versions: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. The Performance variant requires an initial deposit of $5,000, followed by another $45,000 within 10 days. The Thrust version carries a $250,000 deposit requirement, while the Rocket version appears to be restricted to invited customers.
Tesla has yet to establish how much of the demonstration's technology will feature in the final production model. Pricing, specifications and the availability of the rocket-equipped configuration remain key details to watch as development progresses.
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