Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has unveiled what he described as a “flying” car equipped with thrusters during a livestreamed event at SpaceX’s facility in Texas.
Musk introduced the new Roadster sports car at a launch event held at a SpaceX test facility on Thursday, with the demonstration broadcast live on Tesla’s X account.
During the demonstration, the vehicle launched from a steep ramp before landing on its wheels.
“Flying cars are real,” Musk declared during the event.
He acknowledged that the vehicle’s success was not guaranteed but expressed confidence in its prospects.
“Success is not guaranteed,” he said, adding that “it will probably work”.
Musk explained that the vehicle was equipped with “ultra high-pressure air tanks” designed to propel it into the air.
He described the project as the product of collaboration between Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, and SpaceX, his rocket company.
“What happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company,” he said.
Musk said the vehicle would enter production in 2028, although technical and regulatory challenges continue to pose significant obstacles to the development of flying cars.
The concept has a long history, with American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss unveiling an early flying car prototype in 1917.
However, the development of practical flying vehicles has attracted greater attention in recent years, driven partly by advances in electric motors and high-performance batteries.
Despite growing interest in the sector, technical limitations and regulatory requirements have continued to hinder the commercial adoption of flying cars.
