Elon Musk promised the world a flying car. The internet, it seems, came ready with punchlines.
Musk unveiled what he called a “flying” car, equipped with thrusters, at a livestreamed event at SpaceX’s Texas facility on Thursday. The Roadster drove up a towering curved ramp, went upside down, launched off the end, flipped mid-air and landed back on its wheels as the crowd cheered. “Well, it worked,” Musk said.
Social media had plenty to say about it.
Much of the humour circled the same few details. The first was the wait. The new Roadster arrives after almost ten years of missed deadlines, and production dates have slipped repeatedly since the car was first shown in 2017. Then came the empty driver’s seat. The car carried no driver during the stunt, which Musk said was “to make sure we don’t kill anyone.” For many users, that was too good to pass up.
The fine print also drew attention. Musk said production will not begin until 2028 and gave no price, while Tesla’s website notes that the flying model is not approved for public road use. Analysts note that the demo showed only a brief aerial hop, not sustained flight.
Tesla fans, for their part, were thrilled. Musk called the Roadster “the best of the last of the human-driven cars” and told the audience “flying cars are real.”
Whether it ever reaches a driveway is another question. For now, the meme-makers seem to be having the most fun.