Watch: Tesla car tows Qantas plane on tarmac – breaks world record

Watch: Tesla car tows Qantas plane on tarmac – breaks world record

Yesterday, in a world first, a car towed a plane down a taxiway.

Yes, you read that right. A tiny little car pulled a massive plane. That tiny little car is Tesla Model X P100D, which now has the confirmed greatest pulling power of any electric passenger vehicle.

The Tesla towed the newest plane in the Qantas fleet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, almost 300 meters in a Guinness World Record attempt.

https://vimeo.com/269798561/38119a6ad3

The plane weighs 130 tonnes – which is well above the car’s road tow rated capacity of 2.5 tonnes.

It’s not the first time Qantas has used an electric vehicle to tow an aircraft. In fact, they’re already using electric aircraft tugs at Sydney and Canberra in a bid to reduce greenhouse emissions.

And with more than 10,000 pieces of Qantas ground services equipment like catering trucks, aircraft loaders and other vehicles all running on diesel, even a small amount of electric power will have an enormous impact.

Captain Lisa Norman said the towing went extremely well – and that it felt effortless.

https://vimeo.com/269800996/e7a19f8510

To celebrate the successful towing, Tesla owners who are also Frequent Flyer members will have their mileage offset both in their vehicles and in the air for the month of June with the Qantas’ Future Planet Program!

Qantas Valet facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide will also be equipped with Tesla High Power Wall Connectors, so that Model S and Model X owners will be able to charge their cars while they travel.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]