• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Tesla’s Model S Cars Can Briefly Double as a Boat, Elon Musk Says

By
Melissa Chan
Melissa Chan
and
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Melissa Chan
Melissa Chan
and
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 19, 2016, 3:53 PM ET
Assembly Of Tesla Model S Electric Automobiles  At  A Tesla Motors Inc. Factory
A Tesla Model S automobile stands in a light tunnel during quality control checks ahead of European shipping from the Tesla Motors Inc. factory in Tilburg, Netherlands, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Tesla said it delivered 11,580 vehicles in the third quarter, meeting its target after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk handed over the first Model X sport utility vehicles just before the end of the period. Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBloomberg Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tesla’s Model S vehicles can temporarily double as a boat, the automobile’s founder and CEO Elon Musk said Sunday.

Musk wrote on Twitter that the all-electric Model S “floats well enough to turn it into a boat for short periods of time,” although he added that the company definitely doesn’t recommend testing that out. The ability to drive through water comes from the car’s wheel rotation, he explained.

We *def* don't recommended this, but Model S floats well enough to turn it into a boat for short periods of time. Thrust via wheel rotation.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2016

Musk had previously tweeted out a story about a Tesla owner reportedly driving a Model S car through a flooded tunnel in Russia and successfully coming out of the other side.

The Tesla founder said he was “still planning to do a sports sub car that can drive on roads” as a “side project” with limited market potential.

This article originally appeared on Time.com

About the Authors
By Melissa Chan
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By TIME
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Kirby gestures
EnergyAir Travel
Airlines are preparing for the worst as Iran war enters its fourth week. But demand is still strong, and travelers are willing to pay higher fares
By Jacqueline MunisMarch 24, 2026
41 minutes ago
EnergyEnergy Industry
Trump despises wind farms so much he’s paying a French energy giant $1 billion to stop building them and invest in natural gas instead
By Jordan BlumMarch 23, 2026
8 hours ago
Brian Niccol speaks and gestures in front of a blue and green background.
C-SuiteStarbucks
Starbucks CEO admits the chain ‘ran like a manufacturing facility’
By Sasha RogelbergMarch 23, 2026
9 hours ago
Middle EastRussia
Putin is the real winner in Trump’s Iran war as it puts Russian oil back on the map
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMarch 23, 2026
10 hours ago
CryptoBitcoin
Bitcoin climbs as Trump grants five days for Iran negotiations
By Emily Nicolle, Melos Ambaye and BloombergMarch 23, 2026
10 hours ago
BankingIran
Iran issues its largest-ever currency denomination as accelerating inflation ravages a financial sector deemed a ‘Ponzi scheme’ even before the war
By Jason MaMarch 23, 2026
11 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.