Forget Traffic Jams: Ron DeSantis Wants Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster Legal on Florida Roads

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has promised to make Elon Musk's rocket-powered Tesla Roadster street-legal in his state, despite Tesla warning that its most extreme version is not approved for public roads.

The pledge followed a jaw-dropping demonstration in Texas on 15 October, when a Roadster prototype travelled along an upside-down ramp before launching over a line of Tesla vehicles, including a Semi truck.

Asked on X whether the futuristic car would be legal in Florida, DeSantis replied: 'We will make sure that it's legal.'

He even suggested the vehicle could transform life in The Villages, the sprawling Florida retirement community where golf carts are a popular means of transport.

At a minimum, the governor joked, the Roadster 'could be used to leapfrog golf carts in The Villages'.

Online, the excitement is real. On the legal front, not so much. Tesla says its single-seat Rocket isn't approved for public roads, and DeSantis still hasn't said how he'll clear that hurdle.

'I'm Going To Keep Mine in Florida': The Internet Reacts

DeSantis's enthusiastic endorsement of Musk's futuristic machine got plenty of laughs online. Some commenters loved the idea of rocket-powered transport, while others joked about what it might do to the Sunshine State.

One was already planning ahead.

'I'm going to keep mine in Florida.'

Others went straight for Florida's reputation for strange headlines.

'More opportunities to see "A Florida man..." in the news'

Not everyone was sceptical of the governor, though.

'finally some sanity.'

One took the joke even further.

'Can we please amend the FL constitution to keep this man governor for life?'

And another had a fix for the state's hurricane problem.

'Instead of repairing bridges after hurricanes, we can just build ramps now.'

Musk Plans a Giant Hot Wheels-Style Track for Roadster Owners

And this might only be the warm-up. Musk has floated the idea of a huge looping track at Tesla's Texas headquarters, a place where Roadster owners could try out wild stunts in their high-tech cars.

In a post on X, Musk described a proposed attraction featuring a loop even more extreme than those associated with Hot Wheels toy cars, where owners could test their Roadsters.

The idea would give enthusiasts a dedicated venue to experience the vehicle's extraordinary capabilities, potentially turning Tesla's headquarters into a playground for high-speed thrills.

Don't get carried away, though. A stunt track is not a licence to drive the Rocket version on public roads. Building a playground for extreme driving is one thing, and hitting the street is another.

The plans also add another wild twist to a car whose demos have already blurred the line between a sports car and a rocket.

How Does Musk's Flying Tesla Actually Work?

This was more than a regular supercar stunt. Tesla borrowed technology from SpaceX, Musk's rocket company, to help the Roadster defy gravity.

Fans under the car pull air out from beneath it, much like a vacuum cleaner clamping onto the floor. That lets the car stick to a surface, even upside down and standing still.

The Rocket version goes further. It has 10 nozzles that blast out compressed gas to push the car forward, lift it and spin it, a bit like a balloon zipping around when you let go of it. That push lets the car accelerate faster than its tyres could manage on their own, since tyres can only grip the road so hard before they slip, like running shoes on a wet floor.

The Roadster reportedly hit 60mph in about 0.81 seconds. Musk called it a milestone: 'Flying cars are real.'

DeSantis shared the stunt too, with his own quick review: 'Tesla Roadster = Wow!'

Still, the demo didn't prove the car can really fly or handle everyday traffic safely.

The Road to Legal Approval Remains Unclear

Tesla is targeting production in 2028, but its ambitious timetable does not mean every version will be suitable for public roads.

The single-seat Rocket, packed with the full flight system, is off limits on public roads. DeSantis has offered no regulatory plan or timetable explaining how that restriction might be addressed in Florida.

Here's why it matters: a jaw-dropping demo is not a driving permit. A rocket-equipped car would have to clear the legal hurdles first, and only then could it join traffic on public roads.

The proposed Texas stunt track could provide owners with a place to test the Roadster's unusual capabilities, but it would not settle the question of whether the vehicle could legally travel along Florida's highways.

When Musk was asked onstage whether the car was legal, his response captured the uncertainty perfectly.

'Depends on your street.'

For now, Florida has the promise of a flying car — but not the green light to drive one.