Billionaire says Roadster ‘not necessarily safety-optimised’ yet, but production could start in 2028
HOUSTON – Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled what he described as a “flying” car, equipped with thrusters, during a livestreamed event at his SpaceX rocket company on Thursday.
Technical and regulatory challenges have so far prevented the much-hyped flying car sector from getting off the ground.
Musk revealed his new Roadster sports car during a launch event at a SpaceX test facility in Texas.
During the demo, which was livestreamed on Tesla’s X account, the car launched from a steep steel ramp and performed a full barrel roll in mid-air before landing on its wheels.
“Flying cars are real,” Musk said during the event.
Musk said that while the vehicle’s “success is not guaranteed … it will probably work.”
The two-seater sports car did not have a driver for the demo “to make sure we don’t kill anyone”, he added. (Story continues below)
Top speed of 370 kph
Musk said the car was equipped with 10 nozzles and “ultra high-pressure air tanks” to propel itself into the air and accelerate quickly on the ground.
The car can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (100 kph) in under one second and reach a top speed of 230 mph (370 kph).
The tech billionaire described the development as “what happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company,” referring to Tesla and SpaceX.
“It can basically fly like a rocket,” he said.
On the roads
Musk said the Roadster was “not necessarily a safety-optimised car” but it would “be an actual car that’s on the roads.”
“I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions, but there will be such a car that someone can own,” he added.
Musk said the vehicle would go into production in 2028, though he’s known for announcing release dates for his Tesla or SpaceX products that end up being pushed back by several years.
The unveiling of the Roadster was postponed many times and had been expected for at least nine years.
On Tesla’s website, interested customers can reserve a “Performance” Roadster model or a “Thrust” model, with boosted thrusters. The final sale price has not been disclosed.
American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss debuted the first flying car prototype in 1917.
But successful designs have become more seriously contemplated only in recent years as electric motors and high-performance batteries have advanced.
