DeLorean Joins Electric Air Racing as First American Constructor

DeLorean Motor Company announced on 13 October 2026 that it would field a team in the Airspeeder International Series, the world’s first racing championship for electric flying cars. The announcement was made during TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco, and the company will become the first American constructor in the series. DeLorean’s entry will begin with the 2026‑27 season, which opens in November 2026, and the team will use the series’ standard Mk3C aircraft with a DeLorean‑branded livery. The move marks the first time a U.S. automaker has joined the electric air‑racing field, bringing a household name to the grid.

In its first season, the DeLorean Airspeeder Team will compete with the Mk3C aircraft, which carries DeLorean‑styled exterior panels and branding. The design partnership lets the company imprint its distinctive look on the race machine while relying on the series’ standardized platform for performance and safety. DeLorean’s Chief Brand Officer, Cameron Wynne, said the brand had long imagined a flying DeLorean, and it was time to move beyond the idea. The company frames this entry as a step toward the future of its brand and of electric air mobility.

Starting with the 2027‑28 season, DeLorean will deepen its involvement by collaborating with engineering students at U.S. universities such as the University of California, Berkeley, and Georgia Tech. The partnership will help develop future race aircraft and provide a training ground for young engineers. DeLorean’s strategy is to combine its iconic heritage with hands‑on design work that could influence broader eVTOL technology. This university partnership signals the company’s intent to shape the next generation of electric flying cars.

Airspeeder was founded by Australian entrepreneur Matt Pearson in 2016 and aims to accelerate electric‑vertical‑take‑off‑and‑landing (eVTOL) development through competition. Pilots fly the aircraft through three‑dimensional courses marked by virtual gates, using onboard sensors and collision‑avoidance technology to compete at high speeds. The series blends motorsport, aerospace, and artificial intelligence, positioning it as a testing ground for propulsion, flight control, and AI‑enabled aviation. Pearson compares the series to Formula 1’s role in automotive technology, hoping that advances will spill over into passenger, cargo, and emergency‑response eVTOLs.

DeLorean’s move follows a broader trend of automakers exploring air mobility. Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, and Stellantis have invested in eVTOL startups or commercial aircraft projects, but most focus on passenger transport rather than racing. By entering the Airspeeder series, DeLorean signals its interest in shaping the future of flight while leveraging its brand’s legacy. The company sees electric air racing as a platform to accelerate technology that could become the next generation of mobility.