Tesla Unveils Car that can Fly Short Hops

October 20, 2026

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Electric car company Tesla has unveiled a new version of its Roadster car that can briefly fly through the air.

The car was shown off at a special event at SpaceX’s rocket testing site in Texas, USA, on Thursday. It uses special thrusters, a bit like tiny rocket engines, along with a suction system, to make short jumps into the air and even spin while airborne.

Tesla boss Elon Musk posted online: “Turns out the future does have flying cars.” He said the demonstration was done automatically for safety, and that this will be the only Tesla car people actually drive themselves, since the rest of the company’s cars are self-driving.

The Roadster can also speed from a standstill to 96.6km/h in under a second, which is faster than most race cars.

Some experts have pointed out that the flying feature probably won’t be allowed on public roads anytime soon. One law professor said it could take governments a long time to approve, and that for now, it’s really just a one-off demonstration car rather than something people could buy and drive.

Tesla says ordinary versions of the car could go into production in 2028, though no price has been announced yet.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

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Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

After a three-day camp in the Tararua Range, Ben wrote in his diary that the first day was the hardest because of the long walk uphill and the heavy packs. By the second day, his group worked better together when setting up tents and cooking meals. He said the night walk was memorable because the bush sounded different in the dark. On the final morning, everyone was tired but proud. Ben concluded that the camp was challenging, yet it helped the class become more confident and cooperative.

Which is the best summary of Ben’s diary entry?

The camp was difficult at first, but it helped Ben’s class work together and gain confidence. Ben’s group struggled with heavy packs, enjoyed a night walk, and ate meals together at camp. Ben thought the night walk was the best part because the bush sounded different in the dark. Three days in the Tararua Range left everyone tired, but the tents were set up successfully.