Tesla has unveiled a flying car that can lift off the ground, flip in the air and land, as billionaire Elon Musk showcased a new version of the company’s electric sports car fitted with technology developed by his rocket company, SpaceX.

The demonstration took place on Thursday at a SpaceX testing facility in Texas, where the car drove up a curved ramp, moved upside down before flipping through the air and landing.

It later jumped over a row of parked Tesla cars. Musk shared the video on X, presenting the demonstration as a glimpse of a future in which flying cars become a reality.

“Turns out the future does have flying cars,” he said.

The car, known as the next-generation Tesla Roadster, uses powerful bursts of compressed air to lift itself off the ground. It was controlled remotely during the demonstration, with Musk saying this was done “to make sure we don’t kill anyone”.

“Advanced cold-gas thrusters use all-electric actuators to offer precise thrust, completing micro adjustments within a fraction of a second. This helps stabilise the vehicle in flight,” the Tesla website reads.

During the demonstration, Musk acknowledged that the car might not be allowed to fly in every country because of differences in local laws.

“I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions,” he said.

Tesla first unveiled the next-generation Roadster in 2017 but has yet to begin production. Musk now says the company plans to start building the car in 2028, although previous production deadlines have been pushed back.

The company lists three versions of the car on its website: Performance, Thrust and Rocket. Tesla is accepting reservations for the Performance version with a $50,000 deposit, while the Thrust version requires $250,000. The Rocket version, which has the full flight system, is available by invitation only. The company has not announced the final prices of the cars.

It remains unclear when the flying version will be available to customers or whether it will receive approval for wider use. While the demonstration showed the car lifting off the ground, it did not establish that it could fly over long distances like an aircraft.