Est. in an unpredicted future

The Archive
Illustration: a 1940s cream-and-red motor car with aeroplane wings and a tail, flying through a blue sky.

PARTLY RIGHT

Episode 1 ·

The Flying Car

In 1940, Henry Ford predicted a combination airplane and motor car. Today, a certified roadable aircraft exists, while eVTOL aircraft are advancing without becoming road cars or an everyday public service.

The prediction

Vera Tomorrow reads it exactly as it was written:

“Mark my word: A combination airplane and motor car is coming.”

Henry Ford, Forbes Magazine, 1940-03-01 [S1]

What happened since

  • Klein Vision's AirCar received a certificate of airworthiness in January 2022. It is a roadable aircraft. [S2]
  • EHang announced operator certificates for its EH216-S eVTOL on 28 March 2025. The EH216-S is an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, not a road car. [S3]
  • As of 30 September 2026, EHang ticket sales were still awaiting approval, so this does not establish an everyday public passenger service. [S4]

The verdict

DOT, Truth-engine verdict

PARTLY RIGHT

A certified roadable aircraft, the closest match to Ford's combination airplane and motor car, now exists, making Ford's prediction partly right. But eVTOLs are aircraft rather than road cars, and an everyday public service is not yet established by the cited evidence.

Verdict history

Still open We check this prediction again every week and log anything that changes the picture. Last checked .

What would make it right
A roadable aircraft (a car-plane), like the certified AirCar, is sold or delivered to members of the public, so anyone can buy Ford's "combination airplane and motor car".
What would make it wrong
Car-planes stay prototypes, certificates and invitation-only demos: none reaches public buyers, and flying-car plans such as Tesla's flying Roadster (production planned for 2028) are dropped or never approved for public roads.

Next check: Check whether a certified car-plane, such as the AirCar, has been sold or delivered to a member of the public.

  1. PARTLY RIGHT Checked · verdict unchanged

    Re-checked after Tesla's Roadster 2 reveal. Verdict unchanged. On 15 October 2026 Tesla showed a Roadster 2 prototype that drove up a curved ramp, then used thrusters to flip and land, with no one on board. The flying "Rocket" version is single-seat, invitation-only and not approved for public roads, and production is planned for 2028. Short, controlled hops by a prototype are not yet Ford's car-plane for everyone.

    Sources: Elon Musk reveals 'world's first flying car' at Tesla event — The Guardian · Watch 3 of Tesla's flipping, flying and 0-60 launching Roadster stunts — Road & Track · Are videos of Tesla's new 'flying' car performing mid-air stunts real? — Snopes

  2. PARTLY RIGHT

    Episode aired. A certified roadable aircraft exists, but passenger eVTOLs are aircraft rather than road cars, and an everyday public service is not yet established.

    Sources: AirCar receives certificate of airworthiness — The Engineer · EHang exports sandbox model to Vietnam amid China delay — Aviation Week

Seen news that changes a verdict? Tell us, with a link to your source.

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Sources

  1. S1 Henry Ford quotations — The Henry Ford. Accessed 16 October 2026.
  2. S2 AirCar receives certificate of airworthiness — The Engineer. Accessed 16 October 2026.
  3. S3 EHang announces operator certificates for EH216-S. Accessed 16 October 2026.
  4. S4 EHang exports sandbox model to Vietnam amid China delay — Aviation Week. Accessed 16 October 2026.