Tesla's flying car? Elon Musk promises 'unforgettable' demonstration before the end of the year
The entrepreneur's revelation in a podcast stoked speculation about the future of the Tesla Roadster, the electric sports car announced eight years ago and still without a definite launch date.
Tesla company poster.
The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, suggested that the company could introduce a flying car before the end of 2025, during a recent conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan. The revelation stoked speculation about the future of the Tesla Roadster, the electric sports car announced eight years ago and still without a definite launch date.
"We're getting close to demonstrating the prototype," Musk said, promising that "this product demo will be unforgettable." He also said about the event, without advancing further details, that it has "possibilities to be the most memorable presentation in history."
Sporty, electric...and now flying?
The Tesla Roadster was produced between 2008 and 2012, before the company turned its attention to other models such as the Model S, Model 3 and Cybertruck. The new version of the Roadster was announced in 2017, with the promise of reaching 100 km/h in less than two seconds and a price tag of $250,000.
At the time, Musk claimed that the vehicle would be ready in 2020, but the project has suffered multiple delays.
The dream of flying cars
However, his tune has changed. He now suggests that the Roadster 2.0 could incorporate partial flight or rocket-assisted propulsion capabilities, a possibility reminiscent of the 2018 launch, when SpaceX sent a Tesla Roadster into space aboard a Falcon Heavy, with a mannequin dressed as an astronaut bound for Mars.
A market on the rise
While Musk generates buzz, the market for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs)-the closest thing today to flying cars-continues to grow.
Companies such as Joby Aviation, which recently acquired Blade Air Mobility's urban air cab business, are developing electric aircraft for four passengers and a pilot. Their promoters claim these vehicles will make transportation cleaner, quieter and more efficient.
If Tesla delivers on its promise, the unveiling of the new Roadster could mark a milestone in the history of the electric car and usher in the era of commercial flying cars.
World's largest sovereign wealth fund objects to Musk's billion-dollar pay package
The fund, which owns 1.1% of the company's shares, argued that it is concerned about the size of the deal, shareholder dilution and the company's overreliance on the CEO.
The vote will be held Nov. 6, and Musk has warned that he could resign if shareholders reject the plan, as happened with his previous $56 billion package, struck down by a Delaware court.
Assessors such as ISS and Glass Lewis, along with large pension funds, also oppose the new deal said the newspaper Wednesday. Following the announcement, Tesla shares fell 3 percent.
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