By Ade Oyeyemi
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has unveiled a prototype of its new Roadster sports car, which can briefly lift off the ground using rocket technology, with production expected to begin in 2028.
According to CNN, the demonstration took place on Thursday at a SpaceX testing facility in Texas, United States, where the two-seater vehicle performed several manoeuvres, including driving upside down before making a short airborne movement.
The prototype was operated remotely without a driver during the test. Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said the precaution was taken to prevent possible injuries during the demonstration.
“Success is not guaranteed. I mean that. It’ll probably work, but if it doesn’t work, we’re at a safe distance,” Musk said.
CNN reported that the vehicle uses 10 nozzles and high-pressure air tanks to generate thrust. Musk also claimed that the Roadster could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than one second.
He attributed the development to collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX, the rocket company he also leads.
Musk described the project as the outcome of a partnership between what he called the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.
He also challenged spectators to witness the demonstration firsthand, saying their presence would help establish that the display was not generated by artificial intelligence.
“We need an audience to prove that it’s not AI or SI. So you guys can tell people you saw it with your eyes, because what you see with your eyes, you will not believe,” he said.
Despite the demonstration, questions remain about the vehicle’s ability to sustain flight and whether it could serve as a practical means of everyday transportation.
Roger Conner, curator for vertical flight at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, told CNN that combining the requirements of road vehicles and aircraft posed considerable engineering challenges.
He explained that aircraft needed to be lightweight to fly efficiently, while road vehicles required additional components, including bumpers and crumple zones, to protect occupants during collisions.
According to Conner, combining the two technologies could result in a vehicle that performs poorly both on roads and in the air, while also attracting high production costs.
He further questioned whether the demonstration qualified as conventional flight, describing the movement as a brief hop rather than sustained airborne travel.
However, Jim Dukhovny, chief executive of flying car startup Alef, maintained that the technology was achievable.
He told CNN that one of the biggest challenges facing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft was the transition from vertical ascent to forward flight.
Dukhovny said the process required careful engineering to maintain lift and ensure the vehicle remained stable throughout the transition.
CNN also reported that Alef’s prototype weighs approximately 254 pounds, is equipped with eight propellers and is designed to carry one person.
Musk said Tesla planned to commence production of the new Roadster in 2028, although the prototype’s capacity to operate as a practical flying vehicle remains uncertain.
The unveiling represents another step in Musk’s ambition to push vehicle technology beyond conventional electric cars, but questions about safety, engineering feasibility and everyday usability remain unresolved.
