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Techne Path Research Note

Elon Musk Flying Car Attribution Index

Estimated percentage of US state residents who default to believing Elon Musk created flying cars first.

Explore the Index Read the Method

State Index

Attribution By State

Search for a state or narrow the chart to the highest and lowest scoring groups.

Highest Default Rate 81% Wyoming
Mean Score 63.8% Across all 50 states
Median Score 64.0% Across all 50 states
Lowest Default Rate 42% California
75% or higher 56% to 74% 55% or lower
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Generated estimates, not survey results. Bars are grouped by score range for readability.

Methodology

How The Estimate Was Built

The model starts with a national baseline, then adjusts each state for local manufacturing, aerospace activity, media exposure, and rural information patterns.

Because there is no official public survey tracking this exact question, the data was generated using a composite heuristic model designed to estimate brand attribution bias by state.

  1. Base Assumption: National Baseline

    National Baseline: 65%. A national starting baseline was established based on Elon Musk's high mindshare in futuristic transport — including Tesla, SpaceX, Boring Company, and Hyperloop — compared to public awareness of foreign electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) automakers such as Xpeng Aeroht, EHang, Hyundai/Supernal, and Joby/Toyota.

  2. The Multi-Factor Scoring Formula

    Each state's score was calculated by applying four directional modifiers to the baseline score.

    Scoring Formula State Index (%) = Baseline (65%) − ΔAuto Manufacturing − ΔeVTOL Hub − ΔTech Literacy + ΔRural Non-Manufacturing

    Foreign Auto Manufacturing & OEM Presence

    −5% to −15%

    States with major non-Tesla automotive assembly and R&D footprints — such as South Carolina with BMW, and Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee with Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Nissan — have higher local awareness of foreign auto brands and their next-generation mobility initiatives.

    Examples: South Carolina 51%, Michigan 48%, Tennessee 54%.

    eVTOL Testing Corridors & Aerospace Headquarters

    −8% to −18%

    States hosting active air taxi flight tests, FAA test sites, or major eVTOL corporate headquarters feature frequent regional news coverage about non-Tesla flying car ventures.

    Examples: California 42%, home to Joby Aviation and Archer; Florida 49%, with major urban air mobility corridors; Texas 51%.

    Tech Literacy & General Media Consumption

    −3% to −10%

    Tech-dense states with higher digital news literacy have higher exposure to international tech news, reducing single-person attribution.

    Examples: Massachusetts 55%, Washington 56%, New York 52%.

    Rural Isolation & Low Auto Manufacturing Footprint

    +5% to +16%

    States with lower exposure to automotive manufacturing hubs or local eVTOL testing hear about advanced vehicle concepts primarily through high-profile national headline figures.

    Examples: Wyoming 81%, North Dakota 79%, Montana 78%, West Virginia 76%.

  3. Statistical Summary Of Generated Output

    Using Python to run summary statistics on the resulting dataset across all 50 states:

    63.8% Mean score
    64.0% Median score
    42% Minimum — California
    81% Maximum — Wyoming

    California has the lowest reliance on the Musk brand default because of its concentration of eVTOL startups and tech awareness. Wyoming has the highest default rate because of low local exposure to air-taxi corridors and foreign automotive manufacturing.