What China is saying about the flying Tesla

What happened Unveiled by Elon Musk on October 15 at a SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas, Tesla’s redesigned Roadster has captured attention on Chinese social media, with footage of the electric sports car’s gravity-defying stunts circulating on Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote). The scifi-esque model can fly, sparking debate over the future of high-performance electric vehicles. A second-generation Roadster, successor to the 2008 original that was Tesla’s first ever car, demonstrated brief airborne manoeuvres, mid-air rotations and upside-down driving. Tesla attributes the performance to SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters and a suction system designed to increase traction. The company is targeting production in 2028, more than a decade after first announcing the vehicle in 2017. “Flying cars are real,” Musk said at the event, adding that the car could “fly like a rocket.” Asked whether it would be street legal, he said, “I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions,” and described the prototype as “not necessarily a safety-optimized car.” The reveal drew responses from China’s automotive industry. He Xiaopeng (何小鹏), chairman and chief executive of Chinese electric-vehicle maker Xpeng, called the concept “very cool” on Weibo while questioning its practical challenges around flight safety, range and certification. Also on Weibo, Nio founder Li Bin (李斌), known in English as William Li, reposted footage of the demonstration, joking that this was one capability his company did not have. Tesla has opened reservations in China for the Roadster’s Performance version, with a refundable deposit of 332,000 RMB ($49,400); final pricing has not been announced. The rocket-equipped version capable of aerial stunts is available by invitation only, and its production timeline remains unclear. The Jing Take The buzz on Chinese social media contrasts sharply with Tesla’s position in the world’s largest EV market. The car itself is a striking example of automotive engineering borrowing from aerospace, but it also highlights the distance between technological spectacle and commercially viable innovation. While the Roadster inspires visions of futuristic mobility, Tesla faces a more immediate challenge: defending its market share against domestic manufacturers offering competitively priced vehicles and increasingly advanced technology. The company’s sales figures present a mixed picture. Tesla sold 95,366 China-made vehicles in September 2026, up 5% year on year. However, that figure includes vehicles exported overseas, so growth in production and shipments does not necessarily mean stronger demand from Chinese consumers. That distinction matters in a market where local brands such as BYD, which have built their reputations on battery technology and intelligent driving, are intensifying competition on price, features and innovation. Against this backdrop, the Roadster gives Tesla a different kind of visibility. Xiaohongshu users’ fascination with futuristic transport reinforces the brand’s association with innovation, an asset that could help set it apart from increasingly capable rivals. Yet social media attention is not directly reflective of purchasing intent, particularly when the conversation centres on imagined uses rather than practical ownership. Tesla’s real test is whether it can turn technological prestige into lasting commercial advantage. In a market crowded with strong domestic alternatives, viral moments alone will not protect its share. The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media.

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What China is saying about the flying Tesla