Flying cars flood Paris Air Show

Xe bay tràn ngập Triển lãm Hàng không Paris - Ảnh 1. — VoloCity flying car of Volocopter (Germany) at the exhibition

Nikkei Asia reported on June 20 that many flying car models were brought to the Paris Air Show (France), taking place from June 19-25, when large and small manufacturers displayed next-generation transportation technology.

A dedicated area for flying cars made its debut at the show, which dates back to 1909. Flying cars, known as eVTOLs, are electric and can take off and land vertically. Because they don’t require runways and have fewer parts, they promise to have lower operating costs than conventional aircraft.

When put into practice, flying cars are expected to reshape transportation, reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Competition to develop the technology is fierce as manufacturers seek to ensure safety and solve technical problems.

Boeing joins the "race to the sky" with flying cars

Boeing (USA) displayed a flying car being developed by Wisk Aero, an American startup in which it has a stake. The car can operate autonomously while carrying four passengers, to cope with the shortage of pilots.

Volocopter, a German startup partly invested by Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, has shown off a two-seater flying car it plans to take to the air at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

Xe bay tràn ngập Triển lãm Hàng không Paris - Ảnh 2. — Midnight flying car by Archer Aviation (USA) at the exhibition

Joby Aviation, a US startup funded by Toyota Motor and others, also unveiled its flying car, which can reach speeds of around 200 mph with a continuous flight range of just over 150 miles.

China's Yihan Company is also building a vehicle that can fly without a pilot.

Flying cars are expected to be used for tourism, emergency services and taxis. The global market for flying vehicles, including drones, is expected to reach $35.7 billion by 2032, up from $11.1 billion in 2022, according to a report by Canadian firm Precedence Research.

China to commercialize flying cars by 2025

But there are still many technical issues to overcome before flying cars become widely used. Recharging facilities must be reliable and costs must be brought down to levels that allow for greater use. Some flying cars cost more than $1 million, so the focus will be on whether mass production can bring the cost down.

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