With Tesla Roadster debut, Elon Musk shows "flying cars are real"
Elon Musk unveiled a new Tesla Roadster prototype featuring thrusters that allow it to perform aerial maneuvers. While Musk claims 'flying cars are real,' the vehicle is not currently approved for public road use and production is slated for 2028.
Why it matters
The announcement serves as a marketing tool to bolster Tesla's brand image and engineering reputation ahead of upcoming financial reports.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled what he described as a "flying" car, equipped with thrusters, during a livestreamed event at his SpaceX rocket company's facility on Thursday.Technical and regulatory challenges have so far prevented the much-hyped flying car sector from getting off the ground.Musk revealed Tesla's new Roadster sports car during a launch event at a SpaceX test facility in Texas.During the demo, which was livestreamed on Tesla's X account, the car launched from a ramp that curled over so the vehicle was upside down, appearing to defy gravity by clinging to the surface before flying off the end, and then rolled over 180 degrees midair to land on its wheels."Flying cars are real," Musk said during the event, adding that the vehicle's "success is not guaranteed" but "it will probably work."Musk said the car was equipped with "ultra high-pressure air tanks" to propel itself into the air.The tech billionaire…
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