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TeslaPatent applicationCars & transportInterest 7/10

Tesla patents rear wing that hides in body and adjusts for speed

Tesla has filed a patent for a rear wing that folds flat into the car's body when not in use to keep the look clean. When needed, the wing extends out and changes its angle to create more downforce or reduce drag based on how the car is being driven.

Why it mattersThis design could allow high-performance cars to look like standard sedans or coupes while still having the aerodynamic benefits of a fixed race car wing.

In the filing’s own words

An example vehicle wing assembly includes a multi-element wing with a main wing element and a leading edge slat element. A deployment mechanism moves the wing between a stowed position where the main wing element blends with a vehicle body panel and the slat element is concealed, and an active deployed position away from a vehicle. A rotation mechanism adjusts the wing's angle of attack when deployed. A controller dynamically controls deployment and rotation based on vehicle operating parameters. The wing assembly provides enhanced aerodynamic performance while maintaining vehicle styling and incorporating safety features for impact protection.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A vehicle wing assembly comprising: a multi-element wing including a main wing element and a leading edge slat element; a deployment mechanism configured to move the multi-element wing between: a stowed position in which the main wing element blends with a rear panel of a vehicle and the leading edge slat element is concealed under the rear panel of the vehicle, and an active deployed position in which the multi-element wing is located further away from the vehicle than in the stowed position; a rotation mechanism configured to adjust an angle of attack of the multi-element wing when in the active deployed position; and a controller configured to control the deployment mechanism and the rotation mechanism dynamically to adjust drag and downforce based on one or more vehicle operating parameters.

Facts

Company
Tesla (Tesla, Inc.)
Official title
DEPLOYABLE AND ACTIVE REAR WING ASSEMBLY WITH SAFETY FEATURES
Publication number
US20260285418A1
Application number
19295293
Filed
Aug 8, 2025
Published
Sep 24, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

B62D 35/007 Operations & transport
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.