Flying cars, once a figment of science fiction imagination in tales from “Harry Potter” to “The Jetsons,” are making a steady ascent toward commercial reality.
Among the front-runners in this technological race is KleinVision, a Slovakian innovator who has developed the AirCar, touted as the “world’s first certified flying car.”
With the ability to transform from a terrestrial vehicle to an aircraft in less than three minutes, the AirCar symbolizes a leap forward for transportation, the Daily Mail reports.
Slovakia has already embraced this future, gracing the AirCar with the certification to take to the skies after it demonstrated its prowess through 70 hours of flight testing, which included more than 200 take-offs and landings, conforming to the stringent standards of the European Aviation Safety Agency in 2022.
The craft is able to reach heights of more than 8,000 feet and speeds of over 100mph.
KleinVision recently concluded a deal to sell the technology behind the AirCar to Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company, a Chinese firm. The licensing agreement provides the Chinese company with exclusive manufacturing and distribution rights to KleinVision‘s flying car within a designated region yet to be disclosed.
Anton Zajac, KleinVision‘s co-founder, sees the partnership as a substantial stride toward achieving the company’s objective to “expand global access to revolutionary mobility solutions and drive progress in the industry.” Indeed, utilizing KleinVision‘s technology may serve as a catalyst for the Chinese firm to outpace global competitors.
Market analysts at Morgan Stanley forecast a bright horizon for the flying car industry, estimating its worth to reach $1 trillion by 2040, later surging to an eye-opening $9 trillion by 2050. With predictions suggesting that China could command a considerable 23% stake of the global market by mid-century, second only to the United States, this venture positions the country as a serious contender in the aerial automotive sphere.
Speaking to Nikkei, Guo Liang, CEO of Chinese flying car developer Aerofucia, says the coming flying car revolution will “surpass the electrification of cars.”
“The full-fledged commercialization of flying cars in China will begin in either 2025 or 2026,” Mr. Guo said. “As a new mode of low-altitude transportation, [flying cars] fares will be a third or a fifth of helicopters initially.”
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