Florida Governor DeSantis Backs Tesla’s Flying Roadster For Roads After SpaceX-Powered Stunt

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pledged to make Tesla’s futuristic Roadster street-legal in the state after the electric sports car demonstrated its ability to launch into the air using technology developed with SpaceX.

DeSantis made the commitment on X following the October 15, 2026, demonstration of the redesigned Roadster at a SpaceX facility in Texas, where Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased the futuristic two-seater’s unusual capabilities.

When an X user named Vogel asked whether the unusual vehicle would “be street legal in Florida?”, DeSantis responded: “We will make sure that it’s legal — at a minimum could be used to leapfrog golf carts in the Villages.”

The new Roadster will be offered in three versions: Performance, Thrust and the invitation-only Rocket variant. The latter is a non-street-legal electric supercar featuring 10 thrusters for its most ambitious manoeuvres, according to Tesla’s website.

DeSantis’s statement has drawn attention, as his promise does not amount to regulatory approval. Any attempt to legalise the vehicle’s unusual capabilities for use on public roads would raise questions about safety and applicable regulations.

The unveiled Roadster prototype combines Tesla’s electric vehicle engineering with aerospace-inspired hardware from SpaceX, including a suction system designed to hold the car against an inverted surface and thrusters that allow it to remain airborne for a few seconds.

During the demonstration, the futuristic second-generation Roadster performed airborne manoeuvres, including a mid-air rotation after launching from a ramp. It also demonstrated its ability to leap over several Tesla vehicles, highlighting the potential of its specialised propulsion technology.

While Tesla has said production of the next-generation Roadster is expected to begin in 2028, the company has yet to provide a guaranteed delivery timeline. Prospective buyers may therefore have to wait before discovering how closely the production model matches the prototype.

• See Also: 40 Years After The First M3, BMW Builds Its 1 Millionth M Vehicle