In a move that appears to mirror that of rival Airbus, aerospace giant Boeing has just sunk its teeth into developing urban air mobility vehicles—or flying cars, to the delight of people who grew up watching The Jetsons. But because the American airplane manufacturer is only good at making winged sardine cans that crisscross continents, it has teamed up with a company whose specialty is more, er, land based.
Enter Porsche. Yes, the German automaker has partnered with Boeing and its subsidiary, Aurora Flight Sciences, to look into the possibility of creating airborne automobiles that will fill the demand for premium urban air mobility in the future. A 2018 study by Porsche Consulting predicts that the market for luxury flying cars will grow after 2025. It also adds that such technology can be made more flexible and more cost-efficient as it becomes more mainstream.
The aircraft that Boeing and Porsche will be developing is of the eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) type. Although there are no target numbers yet for range and performance, pictures of the proposed concept seem to show the vehicle’s design inspiration from iconic products of the two companies that will build it—the Boeing 747 jumbo jet and the Porsche 911 sports car. Isn’t the future of mobility really exciting?
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