Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled what he described as a “flying” car fitted with thrusters during a livestreamed event at SpaceX’s facility on Thursday.
The development comes as the flying car industry continues to face significant technical and regulatory hurdles that have delayed the commercialisation of the technology.
During the demonstration, streamed live on Tesla’s X account, the vehicle took off from a steep ramp before landing on its wheels.
“Flying cars are real,” Musk declared at the event.
However, he acknowledged that the project’s success was not certain, adding that “it will probably work.”
According to Musk, the vehicle uses ultra-high-pressure air tanks to generate the thrust needed to lift it into the air.
He described the project as the result of a partnership between Tesla and SpaceX, calling it “what happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.”
Musk said the vehicle is expected to enter production in 2028, although significant engineering and regulatory challenges may still need to be overcome.
The concept of flying cars is not new. American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss introduced an early flying car prototype in 1917.
In recent years, however, advances in electric motors and high-performance batteries have renewed interest in the technology, with developers exploring designs that could potentially combine road transportation with air travel.