Tesla unveils its new Roadster sports car in McGregor, Texas, on Thursday. Tesla's new Roadster prototype has raised questions over how a vehicle designed to fly would be regulated, after the car launched off a curved ramp and landed on its wheels during a demonstration in Texas. The demonstration took place on Thursday night, 15 October. By Friday, a senior US Department of Transportation official had acknowledged to CBS News that there was no clear answer on which agency would decide whether such a vehicle was safe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which typically oversees vehicle safety, appears to be the most obvious candidate. However, the agency delegates safety certification to manufacturers. In a statement to CBS News, NHTSA said the manufacturer "must ensure that it does not defy applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards". It added that it "will continue to monitor the situation". The agency is already examining the self-certification system as part of an audit of Tesla's Cybercab, which was opened in September. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), meanwhile, has said the vehicle does not fall under its remit. The agency told CBS News that Tesla's Roadster "does not meet the FAA definition of an aircraft". That leaves an apparent regulatory gap for a vehicle designed to leave the ground. The demonstration featured a prototype Roadster fitted with cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk later said the vehicle was "not necessarily a safety-optimized car", NBC News reported. Tesla's website states that the flying version is not approved for public road use, according to CBS News. Musk has said production is planned for 2028, although the company has yet to announce a price for the flying variant. The cost of the Roadster also remains unclear, with different reports citing varying reservation and payment requirements. NBC News reported that the standard car requires an initial deposit of $50,000, while the Thrust version requires $250,000. Engadget, however, reported a $5,000 reservation fee, followed by $45,000 within 10 days, with a further $245,000 for the Thrust version. It also reported that an invite-only Rocket version sits above both. CBS News said the non-flying version could be reserved with a $5,000 deposit. The Eastern Herald said it was unable to access Tesla's reservation page to verify the figures. Tesla has also claimed the car can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 0.81 seconds, although that figure comes from the company itself. Reports have differed over the precise location of the demonstration. Engadget placed it at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas, while CBS News described the location as Waco.