HAWTHORNE, United States — Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk unveiled a prototype sports car equipped with ultra-high-pressure air thrusters capable of aerial propulsion during a live demonstration at a SpaceX facility on October 15, 2026.
Golden Info reports that Elon Musk announced a target production date of 2028 for the next-generation Tesla Roadster, which uses compressed air tanks to propel itself into the air. Tesla streamed the event live on its social media platform, X, showing the vehicle launch from a steep ramp and land on its wheels.
Speaking during the demonstration, Musk described the vehicle as a collaborative development between Tesla and SpaceX. Musk said during the event that flying cars are real and added that while success is not guaranteed, the design will probably work.
The prototype represents an attempt to overcome technical and regulatory challenges that have constrained the flying car sector. American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss introduced the first flying car prototype in 1917, though recent advances in electric motors and high-performance battery systems have enabled serious commercial design efforts.