Uber Aims For Flying Car Test In 2020

It has been a while since Uber revealed its VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) craft plans. The company confirmed that it was working on the idea of flying taxis which will be able to take its customers from one point to the other. The company’s Elevate summit kicked off in Dallas today and Uber confirmed during its keynote that it’s aiming to demonstrate its Elevate Network in 2020. That’s an ambitious goal, to say the least.

Uber’s vision of the future involves self-flying taxis that will take-off and land vertically which will make them perfect for use in big cities like New York and London. Customers will just need to hop onboard and they will then be flown to their destination.

It goes without saying that it’s going to take a lot of time before the network goes into service for the public. Technological challenges notwithstanding, there are countless legal hurdles that have to be cleared before something like this can even be possible.

The company will work on building partnerships with local real estate companies to find suitable spots for vehicleports where these VTOL crafts will be based. It’s also going to work with experienced aircraft manufacturers who are already developing VTOL vehicles, the companies include the likes of Bell Helicopter and Embraer.

Uber is committed, though, and it’s working with the cities of Dallas-Fort Worth and Dubai to launch pilot programs for its Elevate Network. Uber will attempt the first public demonstration of the Elevate Network at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Transportation
Tags: flying car, Uber