Top Analyst Calls Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster a Tech Flex With 'No Commercial Value' Beyond Embarrassing Rivals

Deepwater Asset Management’s Gene Munster called Tesla Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:TSLA) SpaceX-powered Roadster an engineering spectacle with little commercial value, arguing that the vehicle showcases Elon Musk’s ambitions to combine Tesla and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX). Munster Calls Roadster An Engineering Flex "It was an engineering flex with no commercial value beyond embarrassing traditional car makers," Munster wrote Thursday on X, adding, "Elon can’t wait to bring $TSLA and $SPCX together." Two takeaways from tonight’s Roadster event.1. It was an engineering flex with no commercial value beyond embarrassing traditional car makers.2. Elon can’t wait to bring $TSLA and $SPCX together.— Gene Munster (@munster_gene) October 16, 2026 In an earlier post, Munster called the Roadster "a mashup of the two tech teams," highlighting its extraordinary capabilities. The Roadster event is the latest example of why Elon can’t wait to bring $TSLA and $SPCX together.Elon says the new Roadster is a mashup of the two tech teams.The car’s goal is to break the laws of physics: 0-60 in one second, suck the road for high-G cornering, and 10…— Gene Munster (@munster_gene) October 16, 2026 "The car’s goal is to break the laws of physics: 0-60 in one second, suck the road for high-G cornering, and 10 thrusters that cause the car to flip. It’s a ridiculous display of engineering," he wrote. Tesla And SpaceX Merger Speculation Grows The assessment follows growing speculation about a Tesla-SpaceX merger. Barclays analyst Dan Levy recently suggested the companies could announce a combination before Tesla’s December shareholder meeting, citing opportunities for AI integration. Read Also: Elon Musk Says SpaceX Could Top $100 Trillion Within a Decade, Dwarfing Ron Baron’s $50 Trillion Forecast — But There’s a Catch Such a combination could potentially bring Tesla’s autonomous driving and robotics expertise closer to SpaceX’s propulsion, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Reuters previously reported that Musk acknowledged growing operational overlap between the companies, although neither has announced a merger. SpaceX and Tesla did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment. Roadster Demonstrates Extreme Performance Amid Commercial Questions At Thursday’s Texas unveiling, Tesla demonstrated a Roadster accelerating to 60 mph in under one second, driving upside down using suction technology and performing aerial flips with SpaceX-developed thrusters. The long-awaited unveiling featured Performance, Thrust and Rocket variants. The thruster system uses compressed air to provide additional acceleration and control, enabling maneuvers beyond conventional tire traction. Musk confirmed production would begin in 2028, years after Tesla’s original 2020 delivery target. Reuters reported that the vehicle offers over 300 miles of range, below the 620 miles promised in 2017. Munster’s skepticism echoes investor Ross Gerber, who previously called Roadster hovering a gimmick and questioned its sales potential. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein, however, described the Roadster as Tesla’s new showcase vehicle for advanced engineering in a September note. Price Action: TSLA shares were trading 0.05% lower at $362.27 in after-hours trading on Thursday. Read Also: China's 'Oil Dependency Dropping Fast,' Says Elon Musk Highlighting These Key Figures Image Credit: Tesla/Press