Watch: Did Tesla really just unveil a flying car?
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Tesla has unveiled a new version of its Roadster electric sports car in Texas, demonstrating it driving off a ramp, spinning in mid-air and landing with air jets. The event drew attention to Elon Musk’s claim that the vehicle can hover and turn in the air, while raising questions about how close such technology is to practical use.
Musk presented the car at a SpaceX facility, with the company helping develop the model. He said an audience was needed to show it “is not AI”; the demonstration used thrusters, but the report notes several reasons flying cars are unlikely to reach roads soon.
- Tesla showed a Roadster performing an aerial demonstration.
- SpaceX helped develop the thruster-equipped model.
- Flying cars are unlikely to reach roads soon.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that the demonstration shows a serious attempt to extend electric vehicle technology with rocket-derived thrusters, and that ambitious public showcases can attract investment and speed experimentation. If the system can be made safe and practical, limited hovering or aerial manoeuvres might eventually offer new capabilities beyond conventional cars.
The case against
Sceptics could argue that a dramatic demonstration does not establish that the vehicle can fly safely, reliably or legally in everyday conditions. Thrusters, uncertain practical performance and the challenges of operating near people and other vehicles make claims of a usable flying car premature, so the event may be better understood as a technology display than evidence of near-term transport.
Full account
Tesla has presented a new version of its Roadster electric sports car at an event in Waco, Texas, prompting the question of whether the company has unveiled a flying car. The demonstration showed a vehicle climbing a steep ramp, launching into the air, turning over and landing with the help of jets. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said the audience was there to show that the spectacle was not generated by artificial intelligence. SpaceX, Musk’s other company, helped develop the model.
The display was built around a special “Rocket” configuration. The Verge reports that it used compressed air, directional cold-gas thrusters and a suction-fan system, enabling brief levitation and a very rapid launch. The stunts made for striking footage, but do not establish that the vehicle can fly in the way people might expect of a practical car. The account also notes that the configuration removes the passenger seat to accommodate its gas tanks.
There are substantial limits to its use as a road car. Tesla reportedly says the thruster-equipped version will not be approved for public roads, and has described it as invite-only. The event left basic commercial questions unanswered, including price and battery details. The reported range estimate has also fallen from 600 miles to 300, while Musk put production in 2028, years after early customers paid deposits.
The presentation therefore offered a dramatic demonstration rather than evidence of a flying car ready for ordinary ownership. The BBC report focuses on the reasons such vehicles are unlikely to appear on roads soon, with technology editor Zoe Kleinman explaining the obstacles. The Verge puts more emphasis on the showmanship, the reaction on X and the gap between the stunt and a practical product. Both accounts distinguish the airborne performance from a usable, production-ready car.
Where outlets differ
The BBC report frames the event around whether flying cars are likely to become practical and highlights the technical barriers. The Verge gives a more sceptical, opinionated account of the spectacle and its reception, and supplies details about the thrusters, seating, road approval, range and production timing.
The BBC says the car was shown at a SpaceX facility and describes it spinning in the air; The Verge identifies the venue as Waco and describes the manoeuvre as a kickflip over other Teslas. The reports use different levels of detail about the demonstration.