While it remains to be seen if flying cars have any real future as accessible passenger vehicles, Audi, Airbus and the German government are more than eager to further explore the technology.
Earlier this week, Audi, Airbus, Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer, Minister of State for Digital Affairs Dorothee Bar, and the Mayor of Ingolstadt, Dr. Christian Losel, plus other political and business representatives, signed a letter of intent to start testing air-taxis in the Ingolstadt region of Germany.
No details have been provided as to when further steps in the agreement will be made, nor as to when testing may commence. Nevertheless, the news does serve to prove that many believe flying cars could play an important role in the future of mobility.
“Connected, electric and autonomous cars will make urban traffic more comfortable and cleaner and will save space – that means better quality of life for people in cities,” interim chief executive and member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at Audi, Bram Schot, said.
“This is where mobility in the third dimension can make a valuable contribution in the future. We welcome the involvement of the city of Ingolstadt and support the development of the region as a test field for air taxis.”
Audi made its first serious step into the world of flying cars earlier this year, when it presented the Pop.Up Next concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed with the help of Italdesign and Airbus, the Pop.Up consists of a small EV that can be detached from its chassis and mounted to a massive quadcopter that lifts it into the air.
In its most recent statement, Audi says that vehicles like the Pop.Up Next will eventually “transport people quickly and comfortably on the roads and in the air in large cities.”