Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company’s long-awaited flying Roadster on October 15, demonstrating a prototype equipped with SpaceX propulsion technology that can briefly lift the vehicle off the ground. The unveiling comes ahead of Friday’s U.S. trading session, with Tesla (TSLA) stock closing the previous day at $362.44, down 1.29%.
The stock has declined approximately 5.3% since October 9, when it closed at $382.70, as per YahooFinance data. Investors will now have their first opportunity to react during regular trading to the Roadster demonstration, which featured an upside-down driving maneuver and a brief airborne flight.
Tesla first introduced the second-generation Roadster in 2017, initially targeting production in 2020. Following years of delays, Musk has now outlined a 2028 production timeline for the electric sports car.
Elon Musk Unveils Flying Tesla Roadster With SpaceX Thrusters
Tesla demonstrated the redesigned Roadster at SpaceX’s McGregor testing facility in Texas, where the two-seater electric sports car performed maneuvers using a combination of suction technology and built-in compressed-gas thrusters.
During the demonstration, the vehicle accelerated up a curved ramp, traveled upside down, launched into the air and rotated before landing. It also used its thrusters to jump over several Tesla vehicles, including the Cybertruck, Cybercab and Tesla Semi.
Tesla developed the propulsion technology in collaboration with SpaceX. The company introduced Performance, Thrust, and Rocket configurations, with reservation deposits ranging from $50,000 to $250,000.
The Roadster also demonstrated acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour in under one second. Tesla claims the redesigned vehicle can exceed 230 miles per hour and deliver more than 300 miles of driving range, although production-model performance remains unverified.
Musk described the Roadster as a showcase of Tesla’s engineering capabilities rather than a major revenue contributor. The company expects production to begin in 2028, eight years after its original 2020 target.
Tesla Perpetual Price Rises on Hyperliquid Before Nasdaq Opens
Tesla-linked perpetual futures on Hyperliquid recorded a sharp increase in activity following the Roadster unveiling, offering an early indication of how traders were responding before the regular U.S. stock market session.
The contracts reportedly rallied as much as 5% following the demonstration. A separately reported trading interval showed TSLA-linked futures rising 2.13%, from approximately $365.27 to $373.04.
Transaction volume increased 24.3 times to $81.12 million, while the contracts recorded approximately $128 million in trading volume over 24 hours.
Open interest, which measures the value of outstanding derivatives positions, climbed 76.3% to $82.33 million. Three large traders also reportedly opened leveraged long positions worth a combined $3.98 million, reflecting expectations of further price gains.
Hyperliquid allows traders to take leveraged positions on synthetic assets linked to publicly traded companies, extending price speculation beyond conventional stock exchange hours. Similar on-chain trading activity has previously emerged around SpaceX-linked perpetual futures, where traders gained synthetic exposure through decentralized markets.
However, prices on Hyperliquid do not represent completed trades in Tesla’s Nasdaq-listed shares. The reported 5% rally should therefore not be interpreted as an equivalent gain in TSLA stock.
Charles Schwab Reportedly Purchases 1,500 Tesla Shares
U.S. financial services company Charles Schwab has also reportedly purchased 1,500 Tesla shares. At Tesla’s October 15 closing price of $362.44, the reported holding would be valued at approximately $543,660. The exact purchase date, transaction price, and account associated with the purchase have not been independently established.
Charles Schwab provides brokerage, investment management and financial advisory services to individual and institutional clients. A purchase associated with the company would not necessarily represent a proprietary investment decision, as transactions could involve client accounts or managed portfolios.
The reported transaction comes during a period of declining Tesla shares, although there is no established connection between the purchase and the subsequent Roadster demonstration.
Will Tesla Stock Price Go Up Today?
Tesla’s Roadster unveiling has already attracted attention in overnight trading. Yahoo Finance reported that Tesla shares gained nearly 3% in overnight trading following the event, while Tesla-linked contracts on Hyperliquid recorded substantially higher activity.
The stock nevertheless enters Friday’s session after several consecutive declines. Tesla closed at $382.70 on October 9 and fell to $362.44 by October 15, a drop of approximately $20.26 per share.
Thursday’s trading range provides the immediate price levels to watch. A move above $363.75 would take TSLA beyond its previous session high, while $367.16, the preceding closing level, would be another potential reference point. On the downside, $355.23 remains the latest session low.
The Roadster announcement may support short-term investor interest, particularly following the company’s demonstration of technology developed with SpaceX. However, the vehicle’s planned 2028 production date means it is unlikely to make an immediate contribution to Tesla’s automotive revenue.
Tesla’s upcoming third-quarter financial results will also be important for the stock. Investors are assessing the company’s vehicle business alongside its expansion into autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and robotics.
For Friday, October 16, the key question is whether overnight trading enthusiasm and the gains recorded on Hyperliquid translate into sustained buying demand when Nasdaq opens at 9:30 a.m. EDT (13:30 UTC).
The confirmed overnight reaction is positive, but the size and direction of Tesla’s regular-session move remain to be determined.
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