Elon Musk appeared in the first episode of The Don Lemon Show, which was released on X earlier this week. While the eccentric billionaire and the former CNN host disagreed on a wide range of topics, during the interview, Elon Musk hinted that a flying Tesla might be on the horizon. 

The idea of flying cars from the hand of Tesla

Tech companies have been teasing the idea of flying cars at trade shows such as CES and SXSW for years. However, most have been concepts and empty promises. Even though the tech industry has been keeping the topic hot, flying cars are not precisely the modes of transportation we see daily while out and about. However, this might change in the future, and Tesla might be the one to shape it.  

Humanity might not be that far from seeing the first flying Tesla. During the interview, real-life Tony Stark did not want to spill the beans about his upcoming project with his automotive company but he mentioned that a flying car “is not out of the question.” Elon Musk then added that the forthcoming vehicle will be “really cool” and have rocket technology. The transportation device will likely be a combination of SpaceX and Tesla know-how that, according to Elon Musk, has never existed before and won’t really be a car as we know it. The future Tesla will likely have small wings, wheels, and an aircraft-like steering wheel but will not be equipped with propellers.

What would Tesla’s flying car look like?

Tesla tends to deliver on its promises, but it often takes longer than anticipated. For example, Elon Musk’s appetite for the truck market was first expressed by mentioning a concept vehicle at the company’s birth in 2003. It took the billionaire a dozen years to start deliveries of the Cyber truck after publicly talking about it in 2012, referring to Tesla’s future electric response to Ford’s iconic F-150 model. The highly anticipated Cyber truck was just released, and it will take years to become widely available. Elon Musk says there are about a million pre-orders from consumers waiting for their turn for an opportunity to buy the new Tesla Cyber truck.

Should you avoid buying a new car and wait for a flying vehicle? Don’t hold your breath for too long. During the interview, Elon Musk did not specify when to expect the new addition to the Tesla family. However, experts believe that developing an airborne car available to the masses will likely take at least 1-2 decades, suggesting that wannabe future flying car drivers should brace for a long wait.