Airbus to have 'flying car' prototype ready in 2017, according to CEO
Flying cars could arrive sooner than expected, as Airbus Group plans to roll out a prototype within the next year, according to the company's CEO Tom Enders.
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Airbus recently formed a division to research the idea and other mobility technology, known as Urban Air Mobility. It is currently looking into a variety of new transport possibilities, including airborne vehicles which carry individuals and groups after spots are reserved via a mobile application.
"One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground," Airbus CEO Tom Enders told the DLD digital tech conference in Munich.
"We are in an experimentation phase, we take this development very seriously," he said.
Enders believes that such a transformation towards airborne public transport would allow infrastructure costs to be vastly reduced.
"With flying, you don't need to pour billions into concrete bridges and roads," according to Enders.
"If we ignore these developments, we will be pushed out of important segments of the business," he said.
A raft of companies have been experimenting further with the use of drones, including Amazon, who have made successful deliveries of products via the flying technology.