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US Regulators Push Back on Tesla's Flying Roadster Claims

spiegel.de (German) — October 17, 2026 at 07:01 AM UTC

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has responded to Tesla's flying Roadster presentation, insisting the vehicle must comply with federal safety regulations and local traffic laws. The agency warned it will take action to protect drivers if necessary. The NHTSA noted the sports car appears to defy physics but must not violate vehicle safety standards. The Federal Aviation Administration separately stated the rocket-equipped prototype does not qualify as an aircraft under its definition. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Roadster on Thursday at a SpaceX site in Texas, demonstrating a mid-air flip. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under one second, with production planned for 2028.

With a significance score of 2.3, this news ranks in the top 18% of today's 29613 analyzed articles.

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[3.7]

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[3.7]

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[2.3]

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