Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that he is planning to unveil a prototype for a flying car before the year ends, promising that it will be “the most unforgettable product launch in history”.
He made the revelation on Friday during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
The topic arose when host Joe Rogan inquired about Tesla’s long-delayed second-generation Roadster, a project originally scheduled for release in 2020 but repeatedly postponed. Musk paused before steering the conversation in a surprising new direction.
“We’re getting close to…,” he said, hesitating briefly, “…demonstrating the prototype. One thing I can guarantee is that this product demo will be unforgettable.”
At first, Rogan appeared puzzled, unsure what Musk meant, since the Tesla CEO had not yet clarified that he was referring to a flying car.
When Rogan asked what would make the launch “unforgettable,” Musk laughed and replied, “Whether it’s good or bad, it will be unforgettable.”
As the exchange continued, Musk mentioned a friend and fellow entrepreneur. “Well, you know, my friend Peter Thiel once reflected that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don’t have flying cars,” he said, referring to the Palantir cofounder and his longtime PayPal associate.
Pressed further, Musk offered another clue: “I mean, I think if Peter wants a flying car, we should be able to buy one,” he remarked, implying that Tesla might be working toward making that vision a reality.
When Rogan directly asked if Tesla was “actively considering making an electric flying car”, Musk remained coy. “You’ll have to wait for the demonstration to see for yourself,” he said.
Rogan then wondered aloud if the mysterious vehicle could feature “a retractable wing,” but Musk refused to share more. “I can’t do the unveil before the unveil,” he said, adding that he believed “it has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever.”
Musk said he hoped to present the prototype “before the end of the year,” though he noted that the schedule could change.
Describing the upcoming technology as “crazy,” Musk concluded, “If you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it’s crazier than that.”
Whether or not the ambitious vehicle takes flight this year, Musk’s comments have stirred excitement over Tesla’s next breakthrough.
