Nio CEO William Li acknowledged that his company lacks the flying capabilities demonstrated by the new Tesla Roadster. Li reposted a video of the vehicle on Weibo, referencing his 2018 statement where he claimed Nio matched Tesla's offerings. The comment was widely interpreted as self-deprecating humor regarding his previous remarks on competition.
Tesla unveiled the second-generation Roadster at a SpaceX facility in Texas. The vehicle utilizes a fan-based suction system and cold-gas thrusters developed by Tesla and SpaceX engineers. The car is offered in three versions: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. Only the Rocket version is capable of flight, featuring a single-seat layout and thrusters for lift-off.
The Rocket version is currently restricted to invited customers and lacks public road approval. In China, Tesla is accepting reservations for the Performance version, which does not include flight systems, requiring a deposit of ¥332 000. Elon Musk has set a production target for the Roadster for 2028.
Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng noted that the viability of flying cars depends on flight safety, range, and regulatory certification. Xpeng's subsidiary, Aridge, is currently developing flying vehicles with the goal of mass production using automotive assembly lines.
