Pointers at Glance
- VW is the latest automaker to reveal an autonomous flying taxi.
- The passenger drone can provide transport for four members, including their luggage, and travel for a distance of 124 miles.
Volkswagen (VW) has become the latest automaker to unveil a flying taxi. The Chinese arm of the German automotive company has revealed the V.MO. It has been nicknamed the Flying Tiger due to its distinctive black and gold color scheme.
Although it’s only a prototype at this stage, Volkswagen has described that the passenger drone will likely make production, providing transport for four members and their luggage over 124 miles. A top speed of 124 mph is planned, and the flying taxi will have the capability to operate autonomously or with a pilot if desired.
The V.MO is the first validation model that was created since the Volkswagen Group China launched its Vertical Mobility Project in 2020. It is aimed to investigate mobility solutions, including the urban air mobility market and the expansion of urban traffic into airspace.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is based on existing autonomous driving solutions and battery technology for emissions-free mobility. It measures 36 feet in terms of length and has a span width of 34 feet, and features eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight.
A series of test flights are planned for later in 2022 to fine-tune the concept before an upgraded prototype undergoes more advanced testing by late summer 2023.
Ultimately it is envisaged that the production version of the Flying Tiger could have a crucial role in delivering short and medium-distance transport in or between China’s congested megacities.
Volkswagen Group China says the V.MO is likely to be pitched as a quality product for prosperous Chinese customers prepared to pay for VIP air shuttles, as it will offer a faster, more efficient method of transport than currently available. Urban air mobility is becoming an area of interest for the world’s leading automakers.
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