WASHINGTON, October 22 2026 Tesla could face substantial legal and financial risks if it proceeds with mass production of flying cars, as questions remain over the technology’s safety and reliability, a US business expert has warned.
Jay Ritter, professor emeritus and director of The IPO Initiative at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, said meeting stringent safety requirements would be a major challenge for the electric vehicle manufacturer.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, Ritter pointed to Tesla’s history of legal disputes, including a case involving a fatal 2019 crash linked to a vehicle using its Autopilot system. In August 2025, a court ordered the company to pay US$243 million in damages.
He said the prospect of costly litigation could discourage Tesla from introducing new technologies before their safety and reliability had been sufficiently established.
Ritter also highlighted reliability concerns surrounding Tesla’s robotaxi programme, which had faced delays.
The discussion follows Tesla’s recent unveiling of its electric sports car, the Roadster, during a demonstration featuring aerial manoeuvres. The vehicle reportedly jumped over an obstacle, rotated in mid-air, hovered briefly and landed.
US President Donald Trump subsequently praised the presentation by the company founded by Elon Musk.
Musk later claimed that the Roadster would be capable of performing stunts autonomously and described the vehicle as potentially “sentient”.
However, Ritter cautioned that translating such demonstrations into commercially viable vehicles would require overcoming significant technical and safety challenges, potentially exposing Tesla to further legal liabilities.
-BERNAMA
