tesla’s Sky-High Ambitions: Will Musk Deliver a Flying Car?
Elon Musk โhas ignited excitement with a recent declaration on the Joe โฃRogan Experience podcast: a prototype demonstration of a flying vehicle before year’s end. Thisโฃ isn’t a new ambition for Musk, who has discussed air-capable vehicles sence 2014, but this time the promise feels linkedโ to the long-awaited next-generation Tesla Roadster.
The conversation began with questions about the Roadster, promised as 2020. Musk responded that a prototype demonstration was “close,” adding with conviction that the event “will beโข unforgettable, good or โbad.” He then hinted at the possibility of a true “airplane car,” referencing a past conversation with Peter โThiel about the futureโ lacking the flying cars once envisioned. “If Peter wants an airplane โcar, we have to create it so he can buy it,” Musk stated.
While pressed for details – including speculation about retractable wings – Muskโฃ remained tight-lipped, only โteasing that the demo “might be the most inspiring product demo in history.” He expressed hope for a year-end demonstration, โขbut cautioned it wasn’t guaranteed.
Musk’s history is filled with aspiring โฃpromises, โsome yet to fully materialize. Projects like the Hyperloop, currently limited โขto a slow-speed tunnelโค in Las Vegas,โฃ and the unreleased Cybercab demonstrate a pattern of announcing revolutionary concepts well before their realization.
However, Musk revealed the new Roadster will feature “crazy โtechnology” surpassing anything previously announced, describing it as โ”like all the James Bond cars combined, and even crazier.” This suggests Tesla is developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle, more โakin to a compact aircraft โฃthan a conventionalโข car.
Despite the potential, notable hurdles remain. Safety โฃand โcertification are major โconcerns, requiring pilots’ licenses and addressing complex issues โlike air traffic control and emergency procedures. Muskโค has yet to disclose any โฃtechnical specifications regarding the โengine, take-off system, or battery technology.
Whether this latest announcement will result โฃin โa groundbreaking demonstration or another unfulfilled promise remainsโค to be seen.But โif delivered, it could be a truly remarkable technological event, setting the stage for a future where โขcars take to the skies.