AI summary
Summary of article:
After Tesla launched the Roadster rocket, which it claimed could fly, it sparked controversy over vehicle ownership and aviation regulations in the United States. Neither NHTSA nor the FAA have explicitly taken charge.
Tesla Andspacex ceomusk (Elon Musk) released Tesla’s new Roadster rocket flying electric sports car on the 16th, which immediately shocked everyone. However, it also raises a big question: If a car that can hover, fly, or move forward or backward in any direction in three-dimensional space needs monitoring, then which department should monitor it? CBS News asked this question to the Federal Department of Transportation on the 17th, but officials were unable to answer.
Musk called the Roadster Rocket a “flying car” and said the car was equipped with “ultra-high-pressure air bags.” Musk described it as the result of “a collaboration between the world’s top car company and the world’s top rocket company.” Production of the car is expected to begin in 2028, but progress has been delayed by nearly 10 years from the original plan.
Limited by technical and regulatory challenges, the much-discussed “flying car” field has yet to be certified to actually “fly.”
Tesla’s official website also clearly states that the flying car is not approved to be driven on public roads. In addition, there is a “non-flying” version of this model, and buyers can pay a 5,000 yuan deposit online for pre-order; However, Tesla’s official website reveals that the Roadster rocket equipped with a “full flight system” will be open only to “invited buyers”.
Who will decide whether this flying car is safe or not? A senior transport department official, while expressing doubts about whether the vehicle could actually fly, admitted that the jury was still out.
In the United States, the agency responsible for vehicle regulation is the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), but it usually delegates safety certification functions to vehicle manufacturers.
NHTSA released a statement regarding Tesla’s flying car, saying: “Although the vehicle may appear to violate the laws of physics, manufacturers must ensure that it does not violate current federal motor vehicle safety standards, and drivers must obey all local traffic laws. NHTSA will continue to pay close attention to developments and take decisive action to ensure the public’s safety.”
But if flying cars have the ability to “take off” from the ground and enter public airspace, regulatory responsibility seems to be in the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, the FAA told CBS News: “Tesla’s vehicle does not meet the FAA’s definition of an aircraft.”
While the relevant regulatory agencies are playing ball with each other, Tesla, which has launched this flying car, has not revealed whether the company is cooperating with any regulatory agencies.
Summary FAQ
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Because Musk claims that it is not only an electric sports car, but it also has the ability to fly, fly and move in three-dimensional space. Once it enters airspace or public airspace, it will involve two sets of vehicle and aviation regulatory systems.
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NHTSA said manufacturers must ensure that vehicles do not violate current federal motor vehicle safety standards and that driving must comply with local traffic rules. The agency will continue to pay attention and take appropriate action.
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The FAA responded to CBS News, saying that Tesla’s vehicle does not meet the FAA’s definition of an aircraft, so it cannot be directly included within the scope of regulation based on the current aircraft rules.
