Tesla Shows Roadster Air Maneuver as Musk Pledges Shares

Tesla demonstrated a redesigned Roadster lifting into the air, maneuvering and landing on October 15, while Elon Musk separately announced a proposed gift of SpaceX shares to children in the United States. The car’s brief airborne display did not establish that it could fly long distances, and Musk has not provided details on how his proposed gift would work. The Roadster demonstration took place at a SpaceX facility in Texas, according to one account. The vehicle rose, turned in the air and landed. Tesla said it intended to begin production in 2028. The demonstration showed a short airborne maneuver, not sustained flight like an aircraft. One account also said the Roadster’s most spectacular flying configuration would not be available for ordinary road use. Musk’s share announcement came in a post on X on October 19. He said he would give one SpaceX share to every child in America the following year, describing it as the first of many. The post did not specify how shares would be distributed, who would qualify or exactly when a program would start. A report estimated that one share for each of roughly 73 million U.S. residents under 18 would amount to about $10.7 billion,...