Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted at the development of a flying car, a futuristic pledge that comes amid a history of significant delays for the company’s promised products, including the second-generation Roadster.
Musk made the revelation during a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, suggesting a demonstration of a new prototype is “soon.”
The billionaire entrepreneur described the vehicle as having “crazy, truly crazy technology.” He added that while he is unsure if it qualifies as a car, “it looks like a car.”
Musk’s comments emerged as he deflected questions about the long-overdue Tesla Roadster. This high-performance electric vehicle was announced in 2017 with an initial delivery target of 2020.
The Roadster’s repeated delays have drawn public frustration. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently shared on social media his difficulty in retrieving a $50,000 deposit made for the vehicle in 2018.
I put a $50k deposit on a new Tesla Roadster in 2018. Still don't have it, and they keep pushing the delivery date. I'm kinda annoyed. pic.twitter.com/MYSjE21pQY
— Sam Altman (@sama) October 21, 2023
Musk promised an “unforgettable” product demonstration, choosing not to elaborate on the Roadster’s current status. Questions regarding retractable wings or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities for the flying car remained unanswered.
He referenced investor Peter Thiel, stating, “The future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don’t have flying cars. If Peter wants a flying car, we should be able to buy one.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp_D_Q_BmkE]
The idea of a flying car is not new to Musk, who has publicly discussed the concept since 2014.
However, his track record includes a pattern of overly optimistic timelines for new ventures.
Beyond the Roadster, a notable example is the first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, which occurred five years after Musk’s initial projection.
Observers suggest that while Tesla might indeed present a prototype, any eventual production model would likely follow a protracted period of development and refinement.