We're going to develop new materials. We're going to develop new intellectual property. We're going to develop a new manufacturing procedure to make an object engineered from the ground up to provide the same functionality as a tire but without the air.

"The Tweel automotive application, as demonstrated on the Audi, is definitely a concept, a stretch application with strong future potential," said Gettys. "Our concentration is to enter the market with lower-speed, lower-weight Tweel applications. What we learn from our early successes will be applied to Tweel fitments for passenger cars and beyond."