Tesla’s ‘flying car’ takes off on social media as memes go viral
Tesla’s rocket-powered Roadster has sparked a wave of hilarious memes on social media, with users in Pakistan and India imagining how the futuristic car would fare on their roads.
Videos circulating online show the vehicle soaring over traffic jams, dodging potholes and even getting caught in overhead power lines, turning its high-tech features into material for jokes and AI-generated clips.
The buzz follows a demonstration of the Roadster, which appeared to travel upside down on a track tilted at an angle of 170 degrees before rising into the air, passing over other vehicles and landing back on the ground.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the car incorporates technology inspired by SpaceX’s rocket systems, adding to the excitement surrounding the vehicle.
One viral clip, captioned “Raja Ji in action”, shows a Suzuki Mehran flying over Islamabad’s roads in a parody of the Roadster’s demonstration.
Another video imagines what might happen if the vehicle were launched in Pakistan or India, showing it getting caught in a web of electricity wires as it attempts to land.
Indian social media users have also joined the trend. One widely shared clip shows a car escaping a traffic jam by taking to the air, only to become entangled in overhead wires after travelling a short distance.
Other memes focus on the potential benefits of the technology on roads notorious for potholes. One video shows a locally used car activating its thrusters to leap over a pothole, while another warns drivers to “look both ways” before crossing the road.
Some users have compared the Roadster’s capabilities with scenes from popular video games, saying that what once seemed possible only in virtual worlds now appears to be taking shape in real life. Others joked that humanity had jumped straight from 2026 to 2050.
The car’s potential use in escaping traffic and police has also become a recurring theme. In response to a clip showing the vehicle flying away from law enforcement, another user shared a parody featuring a police car taking off in pursuit, joking that the problem had been solved.
A separate viral video shows a driver pressing a button in a traffic jam, sending the car spinning through the air before it lands back on the road. The clip has been shared with captions warning viewers to remember which button to press.
Other digitally altered videos depict the vehicle flying alongside an aircraft, clinging to tall buildings and allowing passengers to disembark at elevated locations.
What is the Tesla Roadster?
Tesla first unveiled the Roadster concept in 2017, with an initial launch planned for 2020. The project faced repeated delays as the company worked on design changes and technology development.
The vehicle combines Tesla’s electric-car technology with systems inspired by SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company. The Roadster has been promoted for its exceptional acceleration and high performance, while the proposed rocket technology has generated particular interest.
The standard version is designed for road use and features two seats. A second version is expected to incorporate SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters powered by a high-pressure air tank, while a specialised rocket-equipped version is designed around 10 thrusters and has space for only one occupant.
According to the claims outlined for the vehicle, its top speed could exceed 230 miles per hour, or approximately 370 kilometres per hour.
However, demonstrations showing the car rising, rotating and returning to the ground do not establish that it can sustain flight over long distances or safely travel above ordinary traffic. Describing it as a flying car may therefore be premature.
Musk has said Tesla intends to bring the Roadster to market in 2028. Questions remain about the final specifications, availability and practical use of the different versions, particularly the specialised model equipped with rocket thrusters.