Flying car prototype to be ready by end of 2017: Airbus

Tuesday, 17 Jan 2017 12:46:54

Airbus is planning on the first flight of its electric, self-piloted vehicle in late 2017, followed by production in 2020. (Supplied: Airbus)

Flying cars may not be that far away, with the Airbus Group planning to test a prototype as a way of avoiding gridlock on city roads by the end of the year.

The aerospace group's chief executive announced plans for the self-piloted flying car during a digital tech conference in Munich.

Airbus last year formed a division called Urban Air Mobility that is exploring concepts such as a vehicle to transport individuals or a helicopter-style vehicle that can carry multiple riders.

The aim would be for people to book the vehicle using an app, similar to car-sharing schemes.

"One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground," chief executive Tom Enders said, adding he hoped the Airbus could fly a demonstration vehicle for single-person transport by the end of the year.

"We are in an experimentation phase, we take this development very seriously," he said, adding that Airbus recognised such technologies would have to be clean to avoid further polluting congested cities.

Photo: Airbus is planning on the first flight of its electric, self-piloted vehicle in late 2017, followed by production in 2020. (Supplied: Airbus)

He said using the skies could also reduce costs for city infrastructure planners.

"With flying, you don't need to pour billions into concrete bridges and roads," he said.

Enders said Airbus, as the world's largest maker of commercial helicopters, wanted to invest to make the most of new technologies such as autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, to usher in what amounts to an era of flying cars.

"If we ignore these developments, we will be pushed out of important segments of the business," he said.

A spokesman for Airbus declined to say how much the company was investing in urban mobility.

Reuters

AustraliaPlus

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Flying car prototype to be ready by end of 2017: Airbus

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