Expert: Tesla Flying Car Unlikely to Be Mass-Produced

Washington (ANTARA) — Mass production of the flying Tesla Roadster is unlikely, despite a convincing demonstration of the vehicle, said Jay Ritter, Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business.

In an interview broadcast from Washington on Monday by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, Ritter said the prospect of mass production was very slim because of safety concerns.

Safety is one of the main obstacles, said Ritter, who directs The IPO Initiative in the University of Florida’s Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate.

Last week, Tesla unveiled the electric sports car Roadster. During one demonstration, the vehicle leapt over an obstacle, spun on its axis, hovered briefly above the ground, then landed safely while rotating as it came down.

“I estimate that only a small number of this new Tesla model could be produced. Concerns about product liability will be a major issue,” Ritter said.

He added that it would be difficult to ensure the new vehicle was reliable enough for use.

“What if something does not go according to plan and someone is killed by a 2,000-kilogram car falling from the sky?” Ritter said.

Nevertheless, he said he did not doubt the authenticity of the car’s demonstration.

“I saw the video of Tesla’s flying car. My understanding is that the demonstration was real and took place in front of a live audience,” the expert said.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said he was impressed by the demonstration staged by the company owned by US entrepreneur Elon Musk, although he would most likely never ride in the new vehicle.

Musk later said the Roadster would be able to perform various stunts in autonomous mode and have what he described as “sentient” capabilities.