Connect with us
tesla roadster white tesla roadster white

News

Elon Musk details Tesla Roadster hovering capability with Joe Rogan

The next-generation Tesla Roadster at the Grand Basel Auto Show.

Published

on

Tesla CEO Elon Musk joined Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast for the third time, with the episode releasing earlier today. In the episode, Musk detailed some more specifics regarding the production of the next-gen Roadster, shedding more light on Tesla’s incomplete but highly-anticipated project. Musk dove into the possibility of the Roadster’s ability to hover with Rogan, indicating it could be limited to reduce the risk of injury.

Musk’s third appearance with Joe Rogan

Musk joined Joe Rogan once again for his third appearance on the JRE Podcast. Rogan tweeted the podcast episode’s release on February 11th, available exclusively on Spotify, which Rogan signed a massive contract with in 2020.

Musk has joined Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast on two previous occasions: once on September 7th, 2018, and another on May 7th, 2020. The first appearance in 2018 is Rogan’s most viewed podcast episode on YouTube with over 40.7 million views. The second appearance from Musk yielded slightly fewer views at 20.5 million but still stands at the fourth-most popular episode in the history of the JRE Podcast.

Musk and Rogan skimmed over various important topics in the latest episode. One of the most notable was Musk’s comments regarding the next-generation Tesla Roadster, which has been in development for several years.

Advertisement

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan)

Next-Gen Tesla Roadster Hovering Ability

Musk told Rogan that Tesla is “finishing the engineering of the Roadster this year” and will “hopefully” begin shipping the car sometime next year. “We’re going to throw some rocket technology in that car,” Musk stated, speaking of the speculative SpaceX package that is expected to be released. Musk and Tesla plan to put cold-gas SpaceX thrusters on the car, giving it improved acceleration (as if it needed any). The CEO also stated that he would like to put thrusters underneath the car for hovering capabilities, but it hasn’t been figured out yet.

Advertisement

Musk said:

“I want it to hover. I’m trying to figure out how to make this thing hover, without, you know, killing people. I thought, maybe we could make it hover, but not too high. So maybe it could hover, like, a meter above the ground, or something. So, if you plummet, you blow out the suspension, but you’re not going to die. Maybe, I don’t know, six feet. If we put a height limit on it, it will probably be fine.”

ALSO READ:

Tesla Roadster will be “part rocket” to beat Model S Plaid+ specs

Advertisement

Rogan then asked if the Roadster will be able to travel while it is suspended in mid-air. Musk simply replied, “Yeah.”

Musk told Rogan that the rate of travel while hovering will be “pretty fast,” but that it would be subjected to time limits to restrict operators from being off of the ground for too long. However, it comes with some catches.

If a Roadster owner wants the SpaceX package, it will remove the back two passenger seats, meaning only two people will be able to sit in the car at one time. Instead, the rear seats will be replaced by a high-pressure carbon overwrap pressure vessel, which would be “around 10,000 PSI,” Musk says. A series of thrusters will join the vessel.

Musk acknowledges that this may not be possible, though. He talked about what could be released instead.

Advertisement

“At a minimum, I’m confident we could do a thruster where the license plate flips down, James Bond-style, and there would be a rocket thruster behind it, and that gives you three tons of thrust.”

Roadster Production and Release

Musk plans to have engineering finished on the Roadster this year, a detail he released after the 2020 Q4 Earnings Call in late January.

Advertisement

Additionally, Roadster release candidates could be on the road this Summer. “Tri-motor drive system & advanced battery work were important precursors,” Musk also said. Now, the work could turn to whether Tesla engineers can figure out how to make the next-gen Roadster hover and travel at the same time, a far cry from the vehicle Tesla released initially in 2008.

Musk’s full interview with Rogan is available here.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla expands Robotaxi to Florida, marking its third state for autonomy

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla has expanded its Robotaxi program to Miami, Florida, marking the third state the autonomous ride-hailing platform has made its way to since launching last Summer.

Tesla announced today that the Robotaxi suite would now officially launch rides in a geofence in Miami:

The first geofence in Miami covers approximately 10 to 14 square miles. The area appears to be focused on western and central Miami, including Miami International Airport (MIA). It also includes popular routes like SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway), US 41 (Tamiami Trail), and connectors such as SR 968, 953, 959, and 972.

This is Tesla’s initial Miami launch zone, smaller and more targeted than some competitors’ areas (for example, Waymo’s initial rollout was broader in eastern neighborhoods). It prioritizes high-traffic, airport-linked routes before wider expansion.

Advertisement

The expansion is a huge signal for Tesla that it is now operating in Florida, a heavy-traffic state with many tourist areas, including Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and the Boynton area, all of which are coastal and will attract perhaps millions of tourists in any given year.

Advertisement

The Tesla Robotaxi network launched last year on June 22, in Austin, Texas, beginning limited commercial operations in that city. It expanded shortly thereafter into the San Francisco Bay Area of California in late July 2025, marking entry into a second state with service covering key areas such as San Francisco, San Jose, and Berkeley.

Full commercial service was achieved in Austin by November 18, 2025, strengthening its presence within Texas before further growth.

In 2026, the network continued expanding across Texas with the addition of Dallas and Houston on April 18, significantly broadening its footprint in the state. This new launch into Miami marks Tesla entering a new state and bringing active locations to include Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio in Texas, and the Bay Area in California.

These sequential expansions have steadily increased the network’s reach across major metropolitan areas in Texas, California, and Florida, focusing on scaling operations city by city and state by state since the initial Austin debut.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Elon Musk

Elon Musk outlines Tesla Optimus production expectations

Published

on

Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has tempered expectations for the company’s humanoid robot Optimus, emphasizing that initial production will ramp up slowly despite recent progress on the manufacturing line. In a July 1 reply on X, Musk responded to optimistic community speculation by stating, “No, Optimus production will be extremely slow at first, as everything is new. This is not like making a car.”

The comment came in response to a post theorizing that Tesla had accelerated Optimus V3 development and might soon unveil an impressive demonstration with multiple units already in meaningful production. Musk’s clarification highlights the fundamental differences between scaling a novel humanoid robot and Tesla’s established automotive operations, which benefit from over a century of refined supply chains, tooling, and processes.

Advertisement

Recent updates show tangible advancement. Musk shared a photo of himself walking the Optimus production line at Fremont, where Tesla is converting former Model S/X manufacturing space. According to Q1 2026 earnings commentary, limited production is slated to begin in late July or August 2026 on this converted line.

Tesla Optimus project fires up as Musk sees production line progress

Musk previously noted that Optimus features roughly 10,000 unique parts, making early output rates “literally impossible to predict” and describing them as “quite slow.” A larger dedicated factory at Giga Texas is under construction, targeting higher-volume production around summer 2027 with long-term annual capacity potentially reaching millions of units.

Some experts point out that pioneering humanoid robotics demands inventing new automation techniques, actuator supply chains, and quality-control standards in real time. Unlike vehicles, where components and assembly methods are mature, every element of Optimus—from dexterous hands to AI-integrated movement—requires fresh engineering solutions. Early units are expected to handle simple factory tasks before expanding to more complex roles.

Advertisement

This cautious approach aligns with Tesla’s history of under-promising and over-delivering on complex technologies. While enthusiasts hoped for rapid deployment, Musk’s message underscores a deliberate strategy: prioritize reliability and iterative improvement over rushed volume.

Analysts suggest the S-curve ramp typical of new manufacturing will eventually accelerate once foundational issues are resolved, positioning Optimus as a potential trillion-dollar product line.

Musk has long envisioned Optimus transforming labor markets, assisting in homes, factories, and hazardous environments. By setting realistic timelines, Tesla aims to build sustainable momentum rather than risk disappointment. As the Fremont line comes online this summer, investors and fans will watch closely for the first production metrics and capability demonstrations.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Tesla brings Model Y L ‘Launch Series’ to the U.S. at $61,990

Published

on

Tesla has officially launched the Model Y L in the United States and Puerto Rico for $61,990. It is the longer-wheelbase version of the Model Y, and has been available in China since last year.

Tesla brings the Model Y L to the U.S. just months after it phased out the only pure SUV in its lineup, the Model X. It is slightly longer than the Model Y configurations that are already available in the U.S., and features a three-row, six-seat setup with Captain’s Chairs being among the many features that make this a truly fantastic offering.

The Model Y L is priced competitively at $61,990, and features 325 miles of range and a 0-60 MPH in just 4.4 seconds.

Tesla also added a handful of new features that are not available in even the Premium Model Y. Here’s a full list of its features:

Advertisement
  • Heated/Ventilated Front Seats with Powered Thigh Cushion
  • Heated/Ventilated Captain’s Seats in Second Row with Powered Armrests & One-Touch Fold
  • Heated Third-Row Seats with Power Recline, One-Touch Fold & Child Seat Anchors
  • Improved Airflow, Increased Efficiency, More Range
  • 89 cubic feet of trunk space
  • Upgraded Acoustic Glass and Suspension to Minimize Road Noise
  • Adaptive Damping for a Smooth, Stable Ride
  • Staggered Tires for Enhanced Grip
  • Larger Tailgate for Better Rear Visibility and Bigger Windows Overall
  • 16″ First Row and 8″ Second Row Touchscreens
  • 19-Speaker Immersive Tesla Audio
  • 50W Wireless Charging Pads with Active Cooling and Charging Ports for All Other Seats
  • FSD Supervised and Integrated Grok AI

Tesla is also delivering these first units as a “Launch Series,” which comes with additional features, such as:

  • Door Trim Puddle Lights
  • Suede Dashboard Wing
  • Exterior and Interior Badging
  • Floor Mats
  • Sill Plates

The launch of the Model Y L in the U.S. marks a huge offering from Tesla to U.S. consumers. People have been calling for Tesla to bring a larger car to the U.S., and it needed it more than ever now that the Model X is gone.

It is a huge accomplishment for Tesla to get the Model Y L to the U.S., and after reporting strong deliveries today, it will be interesting to see how this car impacts future quarterly delivery reports.

Deliveries for the Model Y L “Launch Series” are slated for September or October of this year.

Continue Reading