Carmakers ready for takeoff in future of urban transport

Personal mobility concepts include flying vehicles capable of escaping big-city congestion

The sky's the limit for carmakers; many of them are exploring the fast-emerging urban air mobility market, which utilizes airspace for short- and medium-distance connections, especially above and between large cities.

Last week, Volkswagen Group China unveiled its first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle prototype, or flying car, as it is commonly called.

The company said this model, based on current autonomous driving solutions and battery technology, is part of its strategy to explore and break new ground in fully electric and sustainable individual mobility concepts.

The model has an x-wing configuration measuring 11.2 meters in length and a width of 10.6 m, powered by eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight.

Volkswagen Group China said it will conduct several flight tests later this year to optimize the concept. An improved prototype will undergo further advanced test flights in late summer 2023.

In its final future iteration, the fully electric and automated eVTOL could carry four passengers plus luggage for up to 200 kilometers, said the company.

The company said the vehicle is likely to be first pitched as a premium product for high-net worth and tech-savvy Chinese customers, for example, VIP air shuttle services.