Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac responds to Tesla's Roadster reveal with a surprise plan about flying cars Bugatti had in 2019
Published on Oct 19, 2026 at 4:05 PM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 19, 2026 at 4:05 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Following Tesla’s Roadster reveal, Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has opened up about a plan his company cooked up back in 2019 for flying cars.
The Tesla Roadster unveiling has set the internet ablaze, with everyone having their say about its extraordinary flying display.
And now Rimac has had his say.
He revealed that he’d had a similar idea seven yeas ago.
How Tesla’s Roadster reveal got everyone talking
It’d been a long time coming, but it finally got its big debut.
The thrust version of the Roadster is nothing short of exemplary, with thrusters pushing it from 0 to 60 in 0.81 seconds.
That makes it the fastest accelerating production car in the world, for those keeping score.
And that’s not forgetting the ‘Rocket’ variant, which is reportedly capable of flying.
Three variants are available in total (Thrust, Rocket, and Standard), and reserving one of them requires a $250,000 upfront deposit.
There’s a whole lot of difference to what was promised back in 2017, and still some things we don’t know about it.
But at any rate, the big reveal has generated a lot of conversation online.
And one person joining that discourse is Mate Rimac, the CEO of Bugatti.
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What did Mate Rimac have to say about the Roadster?
On a video shared to social media, Rimac did a deep-dive into his emails.
He wanted to show that he and his team at Bugatti had already been thinking of Tesla-esque rocket thrusters years ago.
As proof, he offered up a 2019 email in which static downforce (force produced by a vehicle’s bodywork while the car is stationary) was discussed, and a 2020 email in which the possibility of using cold thrusters on the Nevera was explored.
However, Bugatti ended up putting these plans on hold to focus on the Tourbillon.
But don’t be mistaken – this wasn’t sour grapes on Rimac’s part.
He seemed genuinely happy about what Tesla had achieved.
“I’m happy that Elon did it, that Tesla did it,” he said.
“It makes the future even more exciting. We are doing V16s, [Tesla] does these things. I can’t wait to see it on the road.”
What else can we expect from the Roadster?
Despite taking deposits now, production isn’t scheduled to begin until 2028.
Turns out we’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see the car of the future.
There’s still some other question marks floating over the project, namely whether it’ll be street-legal with flying mode.
That remains to be seen.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
