Flying cars in the city in 2030

At least according to the CEO of Hyundai. At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the world’s first car that can fly was unveiled, the brainchild of Dutch company PAL-V. Called Liberty, the vehicle uses a 99 horsepower engine on the ground and a 197 horsepower engine in the air.

Since then, various concept designs have appeared, and manufacturers have been working on the idea. The question is, when will it become a reality? Well, according to Hyundai’s CEO, flying cars could be in urban transport by the end of the decade.

“We have made significant investments in this area. We believe that urban air transport is the solution of the future that can reduce congestion and emissions,” said Michael Cole at yesterday’s conference of the Society of Automobile Manufacturers and Dealers.

The Korean automaker unveiled its futuristic air taxi concept in January 2020 in partnership with Uber. The electric-powered vehicle will offer passengers an environmentally friendly and fast transport option. Developed in collaboration with Hyundai engineers, the Uber S-A1 will have a cruising speed of 290 km/h on paper and will reportedly be able to climb up to 600 metres. It promises to have a range of around 100 kilometres on a maximum charge, with a minimum charge time of 5 minutes and a maximum charge time of 7 minutes.