“This is no joke” – Elon Musk presents the first flying Tesla and declares the end of the traditional car
In a moment that will undoubtedly go down in automotive history, Elon Musk once again surprised the world. The entrepreneur and visionary unveiled the first production-ready model of a flying Tesla in a livestream – and in doing so, declared nothing less than the final end of the traditional car. “This is no joke,” Musk said with a serious expression, “we have just redefined the boundaries of mobility.”
The presentation of the futuristic vehicle – internally called the “Tesla SkyRider” – took place at Tesla headquarters in Austin, Texas. Hundreds of invited guests and millions of viewers around the world watched spellbound as the sleek, aerodynamic vehicle rose vertically into the air and silently floated over the grounds. It wasn’t a science fiction trailer, but reality. And Musk left no doubt: “This is the beginning of the end of the conventional automobile.”
Technically, the flying Tesla model is based on a combination of electric drive, rotor technology, and autonomous navigation software. According to Tesla, the vehicle can take off and land vertically, reach speeds of 250 km/h in the air, and cover distances of up to 500 kilometers – on a single battery charge. On the ground, it drives like a conventional Tesla, but in the air, it resembles a cross between a drone, helicopter, and jet. Transitions between driving and flight modes occur automatically and in real time.
While many viewers were speechless, reactions from the traditional automotive industry also poured in. A spokesperson for a major German automaker stated anonymously: “If this really goes into series production, we’ll have to completely rethink mobility – and faster than we’d like.” Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Musk is already in talks with regulators in the US, the EU, and China to secure airspace rights and safety certifications.
Critics, however, raise concerns about safety, infrastructure, and the legal framework. “How is this supposed to work in densely populated cities?” asks one transportation expert. But Elon Musk wouldn’t be Elon Musk if he didn’t already come up with solutions: Tesla is working in parallel on a global network of takeoff and landing platforms on high-rise buildings and parking garages, as well as on an “Air Traffic Control System 2.0” that will use AI to regulate urban air traffic.
The flying Tesla is also sending strong signals economically. Tesla shares jumped over 15 percent immediately after the presentation, and analysts worldwide are calling the project “revolutionary” and “disruptive.” There’s already a waiting list with over 120,000 pre-orders – despite an estimated starting price of over €300,000 per unit.
Musk himself appeared both proud and determined that evening. “We live in a world that’s changing too slowly,” he said. “But with the SkyRider, we’re giving humanity the opportunity to break free from the shackles of traffic congestion, environmental destruction, and the confines of the land.”
Whether the flying Tesla will truly spell the end of the traditional car remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Elon Musk has once again demonstrated that he doesn’t just talk, he acts—catapulting the world of mobility into the future in one fell swoop.
