Tesla presented a prototype of its new Roadster sports car with an airborne capability on October 15, according to 読売新聞. The demonstration took place at a SpaceX facility in Texas, and the vehicle draws on technology from the space company led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Tesla plans to begin production in 2028.
During the demonstration, the car drove upside down along a large curved slope, then rotated its body in midair and landed using a device that releases high-pressure air, 読売新聞 reported. The car can also accelerate from a standstill to roughly 100 km/h in under one second.
Musk said such results come when the world's leading carmaker and a rocket company work together, according to the report.
The display was limited to movements such as taking off and landing, and how practical the vehicle would be as a flying car remains unclear. It is also not yet known whether it would be approved for driving on public roads.
Coverage from other Japanese outlets described the lift mechanism in more detail. 日本経済新聞 reported that the car body rises on air power and that Tesla's share price fell 2%. Car Watch said the model uses an ultra-high-pressure air tank and ten nozzles, while carview! described fans that hold the car to the road surface and thrusters that lift it into the air. NHK quoted Musk as saying the system is not AI.
What to watch next: whether Tesla provides details on road legality and the practical limits of the flight system ahead of its planned 2028 production start.
