Elon Musk Pitches Austin to San Antonio Hyperloop Under 30 Minutes
Elon Musk pitches an Austin to San Antonio Hyperloop with trips under 30 minutes after The Boring Company raised $3 billion in a round led by the UAE.
Summary
Elon Musk said on September 20, 2026, that The Boring Company is working on a “simple precursor Hyperloop” between Austin and San Antonio, targeting trips under 30 minutes. The company reposted his statement and said it would be excited and honored to build the massive infrastructure project, but disclosed no route, cost, timeline or approval details. Musk made the claim while reposting an AI generated video showing a generic science fiction future with human colonies on other worlds, which he vowed to make real.
The Boring Company operates a Las Vegas transportation network combining tunnels and surface routes and recently raised $3 billion in a round led by the United Arab Emirates. However, previously announced tunnel systems in Chicago, Los Angeles, and between New York City and Washington, D.C., never materialized. Critics characterize Musk’s vision as inspired by pulp science fiction and comic books, while historian Jill Lepore said his preferred science fiction conflicts with his political beliefs.
Positives
- Under 30 minutes is Musk’s target for travel between Austin and San Antonio.
- $3 billion in new funding gives The Boring Company substantial capital for infrastructure development.
- The Las Vegas system demonstrates that The Boring Company can operate transportation routes using tunnels and surface roads.
Risks & concerns
- Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City to Washington tunnel projects were announced but never materialized.
- No route, construction cost, timeline or regulatory approval details accompanied the Austin to San Antonio proposal.
- The proposal emerged through Musk’s response to an AI generated science fiction video rather than a detailed project announcement.
- Jill Lepore argues that Musk’s favored science fiction conflicts with his stated political beliefs.