Tesla, SpaceX partner to build world’s first flying car

… hybrid electric-aerospace vehicle targets urban air mobility by 2030

Tesla Inc. and SpaceX have announced a strategic partnership to develop what they describe as the world’s first commercially viable flying car, combining electric vehicle expertise with advanced aerospace propulsion technology.

The collaboration, unveiled on Thursday, aims to create a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle capable of seamless transition between road and air travel. The project, tentatively codenamed “CyberFlight,” will leverage Tesla’s battery systems, autonomous driving software and manufacturing scale alongside SpaceX’s expertise in lightweight materials, advanced propulsion and high-reliability aerospace engineering.

“This is the natural next step,” Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a joint statement. “We have spent years perfecting electric propulsion and autonomy on the ground and in orbit. Putting them together to create true flying cars is the logical evolution of sustainable transport.”

According to people familiar with the matter, the partnership will be structured as a joint venture headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional engineering teams in Hawthorne, California, and possible future manufacturing considerations in locations with strong aerospace ecosystems. Initial funding of several hundred million dollars is expected to come from both companies’ balance sheets, with external capital raises possible at a later stage.

The vehicle is envisioned as a four-seater capable of highway driving in autonomous mode before switching to flight for congested urban corridors. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software would handle ground navigation, while SpaceX-derived flight control systems and high-energy-density batteries would power vertical lift and cruise. Early prototypes are targeted for testing within three years, with regulatory certification and limited commercial operations eyed for the early 2030s.

Analysts note that the move intensifies competition in the emerging urban air mobility sector, where companies such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and established aerospace players are already developing eVTOL aircraft. Unlike pure air taxis, the Tesla-SpaceX concept emphasises dual-mode capability — a true “flying car” that can operate on existing roads without dedicated vertiports for every trip.

“The combination of Tesla’s brand, battery technology and software with SpaceX’s aerospace pedigree is formidable,” said one industry observer. “Execution and regulation remain the biggest hurdles. Certification for a dual-mode vehicle will be complex.”

The announcement comes as Tesla continues to expand its robotaxi ambitions and SpaceX advances Starship and satellite programmes. Both companies have previously signalled interest in flying vehicles, with Musk repeatedly describing flying cars as an eventual necessity for dense cities.

For emerging markets, including Africa, the development raises longer-term questions about infrastructure readiness, regulation and affordability. While initial units are expected to be premium-priced, proponents argue that scale manufacturing could eventually bring costs down, much as Tesla did with electric vehicles.

Neither company provided detailed technical specifications or a firm production timeline beyond the high-level targets. Further updates are expected as the joint engineering teams begin work.