In a bid to turn the concept of flying cars, long confined to science fiction, into reality, Tesla recently unveiled its latest roadster model.
A video showing the vehicle briefly taking to the air and performing various aerial manoeuvres was also presented at the event.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk unveiled the new model at an event in Texas on 15 October.
He said the company planned to begin production of the new Roadster in 2028.
The vehicle’s key feature is its use of a high pressure gas thruster system to lift it into the air, in addition to the conventional electric motor technology found in electric cars.
The technology is reportedly being developed jointly by Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company.
During the demonstration, the vehicle was shown travelling along a curved ramp, passing through an inverted position before lifting off, performing a turn and landing back on its wheels.
According to Musk, the vehicle can also accelerate to 60 miles per hour (approximately 96 kilometres per hour) in less than one second.
However, it remains unclear whether all the capabilities demonstrated at the event will be incorporated into the commercial production model.
The Tesla Roadster was first unveiled in 2017. However, plans to begin production have been delayed several times.
As the vehicle presented this time is still in the development and testing stages, it remains to be seen whether the production target of 2028 will be met as planned.
Experts point out that briefly lifting a vehicle into the air and developing a fully functional flying car suitable for use on ordinary roads are two distinct engineering challenges.
Therefore, while the demonstration may be regarded as a step forward in flying-car technology, the vehicle has yet to be proven ready for everyday transport.