Musk’s mysterious promise: Tesla could take off this year
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Ilya Musk, the visionary and tech mogul, has once again made headlines with his latest announcement, this time as a guest on the famous Joe Rogan podcast. During the conversation, the billionaire gave a clear hint that the prototype of an airborne Tesla will be presented to the world by the end of this year. Although Musk is no stranger to mentioning this kind of ambitious projects – he talked about flying car ideas as far back as 2014 – this time his mysterious announcement was made specifically in connection with the upcoming new generation Tesla Roadster model.
Roadster returns with unexpected surprises
During the conversation, Rogan asked Musk about the release date of the long-awaited Roadster, since it was originally promised since 2020. Musk responded that the company was “close to demoing a prototype,” adding, “I can guarantee you one thing, this demo will be unforgettable. Whether it’s positive or negative, it will be unforgettable.” It was at this point that he hinted that it might just be a flying car.
Musk recalled his former partner at PayPal, Peter Thiel, who once said: “The future was supposed to be in flying cars – but it still isn’t.” To which Musk replied, “If Peter wants a flying car, we have to achieve it so he can buy it.” Rogan sought to find out more, asking if the car would have retractable fenders. Mask just smiled, “I can’t reveal the details before the official demo. But it might be the most exciting product launch in history.” He added that he hopes to organize the demonstration by the end of the year, but emphasized – “hope”.
Historical promises and unrealized visions
It must be admitted that the promises of the Masks are not always fulfilled quickly and completely. Maska has already proven himself as a person who announced revolutionary projects well before their actual implementation. Let’s remember the Hyperloop transport system, which promised to transport passengers at 250 km/h in vacuum tunnels. In reality, Mask’s company built only a short tunnel in Las Vegas, where regular Teslas slowly transport visitors. The autonomous two-seater Cybercab announced last year has also remained only on paper.
Roadster as “not quite a car”
Musk has admitted that the new Roadster will feature “crazy technology” that was not previously announced. “It’s hard to even call it a car. It looks like a car, but… If you put all the James Bond cars into one, this one would be even crazier.” This hint could mean that Tesla is working on a vertical take-off and landing vehicle that looks more like a compact aircraft than a traditional car.
Security and certification challenges
However, the main problem for all “flying machines” remains the same – safety and certification issues. A pilot needs a license to fly in the US, and full autonomy brings other challenges, from air traffic coordination to emergency management. So far, Mask has not revealed any technical details – neither about the type of engine, nor about the take-off system, nor about the batteries. But if the promise isn’t just words, the demo could become the highlight of the year’s tech event.
