Musk unveils thruster-powered Tesla Roadster, says flying cars are real’

By Anuoluwa Amao

Elon Musk has unveiled a redesigned Tesla Roadster equipped with compressed-air thrusters, claiming the technology brings flying cars closer to reality, although the vehicle demonstrated only brief, thruster-assisted movements.

The unveiling took place during a livestreamed event on Thursday night at SpaceX’s test site in McGregor, near Waco, Texas. The vehicle raced up a steep ramp before landing on its wheels and used compressed-air thrusters to flip and hop over other Tesla cars.

“Flying cars are real,” Musk declared, later reinforcing the claim in a post on X.

The billionaire described the vehicle as a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, saying its thrusters would use ultra-high-pressure air tanks and be available as an optional extra.

Musk said production was expected to begin in 2028, although he acknowledged that the project’s success was not guaranteed. No price was announced. Tesla also claims the Roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in under a second.

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However, the unveiling comes after years of delays. Tesla first introduced the redesigned Roadster in 2017 and began accepting reservations, but has repeatedly missed its delivery targets.

Despite Musk’s claims, the demonstration did not establish that the vehicle could sustain flight. The wider flying-car industry also faces significant hurdles, including safety requirements, regulatory approval, infrastructure and affordability.

The concept dates back more than a century, when inventor Glenn Curtiss demonstrated an early prototype in 1917. Whether Tesla can turn its latest demonstration into a commercially available, road-legal vehicle by 2028 remains uncertain