DeLorean to Field Team in Airspeeder Electric Flying-Car Racing Series
Why It MattersA car brand entering eVTOL racing shows automotive names treating electric flight as a branding and engineering space, while larger automakers' air-mobility bets remain focused on commercial aircraft.
DeLorean announced on Tuesday at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco that it will field a team in the new Airspeeder International Series, becoming the first American constructor to take part in what organizers describe as the world's first racing championship for electric flying cars. The DeLorean Airspeeder Team will make its racing debut when the 2026-27 season opens in November, competing in Airspeeder's standardized Mk3C electric race aircraft with DeLorean-designed styling and branding. From the 2027-28 season, the company will collaborate with engineering students from universities including UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech on the development of future race aircraft.
Airspeeder was founded in 2016 by Australian entrepreneur Matt Pearson, who says he wants to do for electric flight what Formula 1 has done for automotive technology by accelerating development through competition. Pilots fly electric aircraft through three-dimensional courses marked by virtual gates, using onboard sensors and collision-avoidance technology at high speeds. Organizers hope technology developed through racing will eventually contribute to the air mobility industry, where companies are working on electric aircraft for passenger transport, emergency response and more.
DeLorean has focused mostly on electric mobility since its relaunch, and its executives now see eVTOL aircraft as another space worth exploring. Chief brand officer Cameron Wynne said: "People have pictured a DeLorean in the sky for 40 years. We decided it was time to stop picturing it." Hyundai, Toyota, Honda and Stellantis have also invested in eVTOL startups or advanced air mobility projects in recent years, though most have focused on commercial aircraft rather than racing.
