Video: Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens first tunnel

Elon Musk has opened the first Boring Company high-speed transport system test tunnel in Hawthorne, California.

A modified Tesla Model X was used to ferry media through the US$10 million 1.83km tunnel running from a car park owned by Musk’s Space X to the Hawthorne exit at around 80km/h on December 18.

The transport system is reportedly capable of doing up to about 240km/h.

Retractable wheels are fitted to the Model X’s front wheels to guide the car like a train on a railway track. The wheel system can be applied to any autonomous and electric vehicle, Musk says.

“If the driver passes out or goes crazy those tracking wheels ensure the car stays on track,” Musk told CNBC.

Musk formed the Boring Company about two years ago after saying Los Angeles traffic was driving him “nuts”, leading to his idea of the tunnel system to avoid congestion and move millions of commuters more easily around cities.

Planning has begun for tunnels in Chicago and from Washington to Baltimore.