From TechRadar · · 2m
Tesla's flying Roadster masks stagnation in real EV innovation
Tesla unveiled a Roadster that can briefly fly using cold-gas thrusters, but the stunt obscures the company's lack of battery breakthroughs while Chinese rivals push genuine advances.
In brief
Tesla unveiled a Roadster that can briefly fly using cold-gas thrusters, but the stunt obscures the company's lack of battery breakthroughs while Chinese rivals push genuine advances. Tesla revealed a flying Roadster using SpaceX thruster technology, but critics say the spectacle distracts from the company's stalled…
Tesla reveals flying Roadster after decade of delays
After almost a decade of teasing and design changes, Tesla unveiled a radical Roadster that can briefly fly using cold-gas thrusters derived from SpaceX technology at the company's Rocket Test and Development Center in McGregor…
The car's transformation from original vision
The Roadster evolved from a curvaceous car with epic real-world performance and a six hundred-odd-mile range into an angular, space-age machine capable of around three hundred miles on a single charge.
How the flying demonstration actually works
Enormous jets of compressed gas force the vehicle airborne while separate thrusters mounted around the car make it spin, performing a kickflip as Tesla Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy called it, then land safely…
“kickflip”
Roadster availability severely limited
All but the entry-level Performance model can only be used on private roads or specific race circuits.
Analyst sees merger promotion, not innovation
Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management told Automotive World the event was an engineering flex with no commercial value beyond embarrassing traditional car makers, and the latest example of why Elon cannot wait to bring…
“It was an engineering flex with no commercial value beyond embarrassing traditional car makers”
Roadster lacks real innovation breakthroughs
There was no mention of innovative battery technology, no discussion of rapid charging, and no messaging around next-generation infotainment or software-defined breakthroughs.
Tesla's limited product lineup and strategy
Ignoring the Cybertruck, which now sells in tiny numbers, Tesla only offers two vehicles: the Model three and Model Y, with no plans to introduce anything else soon.
Chinese rivals advancing genuine EV technology
BYD offers a nine-minute Flash Charge, Nio has battery-swap technology, and Geely has Level four Afari Smart Driving autonomous systems. These feel like innovations with genuine real-world impact while Tesla pursues sci-fi stunts.
Tesla's EV business stalling amid spectacle
Tesla wrote the blueprint for electric vehicle ownership with its groundbreaking Supercharger network and effortless-to-live-with cars. Now it peddles humanoid robots and sci-fi stunts to deflect from the fact that its EV business is stagnating.
In short
Tesla revealed a flying Roadster using SpaceX thruster technology, but critics say the spectacle distracts from the company's stalled EV innovation as Chinese competitors advance battery and autonomous driving technology.
