Japanese automotive giant Toyota has taken an important step towards bringing the flying taxis we see in science fiction movies to real life. The electric vertical takeoff and landing eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) vehicle developed by the American company Joby Aviation, supported by Toyota, was introduced to the press at Toyota’s Shizuoka Research Center in Japan. Here are the details…
Toyota’s flying taxi dream comes true: 320 km/h eVTOL tested for the first time!
The prototype, which was presented to the media for the first time, can reach a maximum speed of 320 km/h. In today’s world where there is a global race for flying vehicle technology, Toyota is said to have taken a step that will completely change urban transportation in the future with this model.
Meanwhile, Toyota has not only invested in this flying taxi project. It also provided Joby Aviation with an additional $500 million in funding. The purpose of this huge investment is to ensure that the eVTOL vehicle passes the necessary certification processes and is ready for commercial production as soon as possible.
The announcement made today (November 4) showed once again how serious Toyota is about the flying vehicle sector. So much so that Joby Aviation plans not only to produce these vehicles, but also to establish a transportation network. In other words, Joby plans to offer services to its own customer network with an Uber-style model, instead of selling the vehicle only to airline or logistics companies.
Joby Aviation plans to launch its flying taxi service in Dayton, Ohio in the US by 2025. If the service is successful, similar urban transportation solutions are expected to spread rapidly around the world.
This vehicle, which is currently only being tested in Japan, may soon take to the skies instead of the crowded streets of metropolises. What do you think? Do you think Toyota can achieve this? You can write your opinions in the comments section below.