Are these the flying cars of the future?
Although they might have once been viewed as something only seen in sci-fi movies, could flying cars be seen in the skies in the UK in the near future?
Here, we have profiled five concepts that are in different stages of production.
What is a flying car?
A flying car is a type of vehicle that can travel both on the ground like a regular car and in the air, like an aircraft.
Although there aren’t any seen on roads around the world, there are many manufacturers that are looking into the technology.
The idea is to offer the convenience of driving on roads while also having the ability to take off, fly, and land vertically or horizontally, depending on the model.
As innovations continue to change, and the leading brands within the industry evolve with technology, you might expect to see these vehicles in the future.
Toyota Joby eVTOL
In late 2024, Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation (Joby)announced a partnership to change the future of air mobility.
The Joby eVTOL is currently in the midst of the regulatory testing and build stage – and has already passed three of the five stages of certification with the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States.
Currently working through the fourth stage, the finished product would be a zero-emission vehicle that could reach speeds of up to 200mph.
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Suzuki SkyDrive
SkyDrive was officially founded in July 2018, following years of testing flying car concepts and prototypes starting in 2014. The company’s mission is to ‘lead the once-in-a-century mobility revolution’.
Its vision is to make eVTOLs a common mode of daily transportation, both in Japan and globally.
In 2019, SkyDrive achieved a milestone with Japan's first crewed eVTOL flight test. In March 2024, the company began production of its SKYDRIVE model at a facility owned by its official production partner, Suzuki Motor Company.
Porsche/Boeing
Porsche and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 to explore the premium urban air mobility market.
Through this collaboration, the two companies will combine their unique expertise to investigate the future of high-end urban air mobility vehicles.
Boeing, Porsche, and Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing subsidiary, are working together to develop a concept for a fully electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle.
Honda eVTOL
The Japanese manufacturer is working to create eVTOL, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, to add to their range of vehicles.
Honda Motor Company unveiled the new technology in 2024 as part of its initiatives as part of its 2030 Vision, which includes the development of an eVTOL aircraft.
However, specific details regarding the aircraft’s cruise speed, range, and passenger capacity have not yet been disclosed.
Skai project with BMW
Skai, developed by Alaka'i Technologies, a leader in hydrogen-powered mobility solutions, is the first hydrogen-powered eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle being put into production.
It will be a four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, that could reach a top speed of 118 mph.
Created by Alaka'i, it’s estimated to travel up to 400 miles, potentially cutting travel times down to just a few minutes.
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