Audi and Airbus flying taxi gets backing from German government

Chancellor Angela Merkel to permit testing in city of Ingolstadt.

By Sam Sheehan, Autocar UK calendar 26 Jun 2018 Views icon1645 Views Share - Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share to Whatsapp
Audi and Airbus flying taxi gets backing from German government

Audi and Airbus’s flying taxi concept looks set to take to the skies around the German city of Ingolstadt, following the signing of a letter of intent by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The concept, which was shown at the Geneva motor show, features a passenger pod that can be attached either to an electric car base or quadcopter top. The autonomous vehicle can drive itself on the road or fly itself into the air.

Merkel’s backing will allow the project to move onto testing on the road and the sky — something that Merkel said would help provide a solution to Germany’s growing urban traffic problem, as well as offering a boost to the technology industry.

“Flying taxis aren’t a vision any longer, they can take us off into a new dimension of mobility,” German transport minister Andreas Scheuer told Bloomberg. “They’re a huge opportunity for companies and young start-ups that already develop this technology very concretely and successfully.”

Flying taxis have become increasingly popular with tech companies because of their ability to transport passengers from door to door without the need for a runway. 

Uber is developing its own flying taxi with the intention of launching it from 2020. Lilium, a German start-up, is also creating its own, with hopes that it will take to the skies from 2025.

 

Also read: 

Pop.Up Next: The next evolution in urban mobility is here

 

RELATED ARTICLES
First BYD EV rolls off the line at new plant in Brazil

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar14 Jul 2025

Chinese EV maker takes just 15 months from breaking ground to producing the Dolphin Mini, the first locally manufactured...

Volkswagen Group honours 10 outstanding suppliers, strengthens strategic collaboration

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar13 Jul 2025

The 21st Volkswagen Group Award recognized suppliers for outstanding performance and contribution over the past year. VW...

Volkswagen Group sells 465,500 BEVs worldwide in first-half 2025, up 47%

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar10 Jul 2025

With strong growth in Europe (+89%) and the USA (+24%), despite a sales decline in China (-34%), the VW Group’s global B...