Flying cars

Air taxi

Main article: Air taxi

2024

China's Xpeng unveils flying car

In late October 2024, Xpeng Aeroht, a division of the Chinese automaker Xpeng, unveiled a two-seat, automatic take-off and landing aircraft that can perform 5 − 6 full-charge flights. The modular flying vehicle has ground and air modules that can be autonomously separated and combined. The air module provides vertical takeoff for low altitude flights, and the ground module allows ground transportation. Read more here.

Chery unveils its first flying car

On October 18, 2024, the Chinese company Chery unveiled its first flying car. The vehicle, dubbed the Land and Air Vehicle, is designed to run in fully automatic mode. Read more here.

China's EHang begins serial deliveries of flying cars

In early July 2024, the Chinese company EHang began serial deliveries of two-seat unmanned flying cars EH216-S. The first batch of such devices was transferred to the Wencheng authorities (county of Wenzhou City District, Zhejiang Province). Read more here

2023

Russian-based Chinese automaker GAC unveils flying electric car

At the end of June 2023, the Chinese automaker GAC, operating in Russia, presented its flying electric car. The model was called GOVE. Read more here.

Suzuki has started producing flying cars

On June 20, 2023, Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor announced the signing of an agreement with SkyDrive to produce flying cars. Under the terms of the contract, the partners will use Suzuki's plant in central Japan to produce electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and plan to begin production by around spring 2024. Read more here.

Japanese industrial giant Nidec has created a company to produce engines for flying cars

On June 18, 2023, Japanese industrial giant Nidec announced the creation of a joint venture with Embraer (JV) called Nidec Aerospace, which will produce electric motors for aircraft. Read more here.

2022

The price of the XPeng Aeroht flying car is announced - $140 thousand.

In December 2022, the cost of the Aeroht flying car created by the Chinese company XPeng was disclosed. The manufacturer estimated its car at $140 thousand. Read more here.

Sales of flying cars with a speed of 100 km/h began

In June 2022, the Swedish company Jetson announced the sale of almost 100 airmobiles. Buyers will receive their vehicles by the end of 2022, and the second batch of 100 vehicles is expected to arrive at buyers in 2023. The company received more than 3 thousand pre-orders. Read more here.

The United States issued the first permit for passenger transportation by flying cars

At the end of May 2022, Joby Aviation received the necessary certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration to begin commercial transportation by flying cars. This is the first such permit for the American market. Read more here.

Flying motorcycle presented for $621 thousand

On April 10, 2022, the Japanese company ALI Technologies introduced the Xturismo Limited Edition, a hoverbike capable of moving through the air. Read more here.

Slovakia allowed flying cars

At the end of January 2022, it became known that an auto-aircraft hybrid vehicle called AirCar received an official airworthiness certificate from the Slovak Transport Administration. The certificate was obtained in the category of experimental aircraft and is valid throughout the territory. European Union This is the first time Slovakia I have allowed use. flying cars More. here

2021

Announcement of an electric car capable of flying and driving on the roads

On October 24, 2021, the Chinese company Xpeng introduced an electric car with wheels and wings, which can not only drive on ordinary roads, but also fly. Read more here.

Start testing flying ambulances in EU

In mid-February 2021 Europe , projects were launched in six countries to use drones unmanned aerial vehicles for provision. emergency medical care More. here

2020: Flying car developer Terrafugia merges with drone developer AOSSCI

In mid-September 2020, an American flying car company Terrafugia announced a merger with a Chinese developer. drones AOSSCI The combined company will become a Geely Technology Group subsidiary of the Chinese automaker, which acquired all of Terrafugia's operations and assets in 2017. More. here

2018: Japan set up flying car development team

In August 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Commerce formed a board to develop and implement rules for flying vehicles. It includes 21 companies, including Uber, Boeing, Airbus, Japan Airlines and Toyota, which will also be engaged in the direct development of "winged" machines.

According to the Bloomberg news agency, citing a statement by the Japanese Ministry of Trade, the country's government will provide appropriate support in implementing the concept of flying machines, including the creation of "acceptable rules."

Japanese authorities will develop rules for flying cars with the participation of Uber and Boeing

The Japanese authorities believe that flying vehicles, which will not waste time standing in traffic jams, will help significantly speed up passenger traffic. The first meeting of the Flying Transport Council is scheduled for August 29, 2018.

Bloomberg notes that the technology of flying cars, like aviation, will have to receive approval from several regulators, and this may take several years. In addition, the relevant ministries will need to create safety standards, without which passengers will not be able to use aircraft.

It is necessary for the government to take the lead and coordinate the establishment of security standards. The authorities are trying to set the tone for the industry earlier than in other countries, "said Yasuo Hashimoto, a researcher at the Japan Aviation Management Research Agency.

Japanese Economy Minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters that flying cars are able to reduce traffic on the roads, help with transportation on remote islands or in mountainous areas during periods of natural disasters, and can also be used in the tourism business.

By August 2018, many companies are creating concepts or testing the first samples of a flying taxi. So, in July, Rolls-Royce announced its intention to release a flying taxi with vertical take-off and landing EVTOL. Audi, Airbus and design company Italdesign are developing the Pop.Up flying car.^[1]

1940: Jess Dixon's Flying Car

1940. Jess Dixon's flying car. An air-cooled engine of 40 hp. Speed up to 160 km/h

Could fly up, back and forth.]]

See also

• Hoversurf Scorpion - Hoversurf
• T-Frend - Blue Innovations
• Airbus Vahana (flying taxi) - Airbus Group
• Flyer (flying car) - Kitty Hawk
• Pal-V Liberty - PAL-V

Notes