I’d heard that designer Hakan Gürsu had designed a folding electric vehicle, but I couldn’t actually find it. So I searched “folding car” on Google instead, and a few different models caught my attention — that’s how this post started.
We’ve all pictured flying cars in our heads at some point. It’d be great if they existed and we could actually ride in them. But I don’t think we’ve truly “conquered” that idea yet. My theory: reliable, accessible folding cars have to come first, before flying cars become realistic for everyone. Whatever durable, reliable materials end up handling the repeated stress of folding and unfolding in these vehicles will likely be the same materials that make flying cars viable too. Lightweight materials and structures that work for folding cars would help there as well. And folding car technology generally has to solve the same safety concerns — crash resistance and structural integrity — that flying vehicles would also need to solve. Basically, what we actually need first is something like the cars from Transformers, minus the safety and cost problems.
- The one I liked most was reportedly designed by MIT in the US, funded by the EU — but it turned out that project fizzled out. I think they gave up on it too quickly. (See: Hiriko)
2 & 3. A couple of other models don’t fold quite as dramatically, but something is better than nothing:
- Israeli startup City Transformer CT1: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-16/ty-article-magazine/.premium/israeli-startup-brings-its-foldable-car-dream-closer/00000186-5a8c-d22b-ad9e-7feed69f0000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJwj1Q3mybg
- Another vehicle sharing the same “City Transformer” name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1A44qIZfM4
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Inspired by the EU-funded project mentioned above, someone built a more playful design — fun, but its practicality is questionable.
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A Chinese-made model called the IEV X — the styling doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
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EO Smart Connecting Car 2 — worth noting, in the credits I spotted a couple of names that stood out among the design team.
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One more example that’s genuinely on another level entirely.
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And finally, Turkey’s own homegrown attempt — the “Turkish Transformers.”
Folding cars could offer real advantages for parking and storage. But the challenges around safety, structural integrity, and manufacturing cost are significant. These aren’t widely available yet, and if they are being sold anywhere, it’s likely in very small numbers. Materials science probably needs to advance further before folding cars become a realistic, widely available option.
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