The sky's the limit for carmakers: many of them are exploring the fast emerging urban air mobility market which utilizes airspace for short-and medium-distance connections,espe cially above and between large cities. Last weekVolkswagen Group Chi- na unveiled its first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle proto- type or flying car as it is commonly called.

The company said this model. based on current autonomous driv ing solutions and batterytechnology is part of its strategy to explore and break new ground in fully electric and sustainable individual mobility concepts.

The model has an x-wing configu ration measuring 11.2 meters in length and a width of 10.6 mpow ered by eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight.

Volkswagen Group China said it will conduct several flight tests later this year to optimize the concept.An improved prototype will undergo further advanced test flights in late summer 2023.

In its final future iteration, the ful ly electric and automated eVTOL could carry four passengers plus lug gage for up to 200 kilometers said the company

The company said the vehicle is likely to be first pitched as a premi- um product for high-net worth and tech-savvy Chinese customers, for example, VIP air shuttle services.

In China, it is set to play a signifi- cant role in the future of urban and intercity transport in its congested megacities, said the company.

Volkswagen Group China started the vertical mobility project in 2020, which includes developing the urban air mobility market and the exten- sion of urban traffic into airspace. Stephan Woellenstein now the former CEO ofVolkswagen Group China, said that this was a pioneering project a young team ofChinese experts started from scratch.

He said:“They are working with new design concepts and materials while developing new safety stan- dards, disrupting and innovating every step of the way.

“The launch of this stunning vali- dation model-the V.MO-is the first of many remarkable milestones on our exciting journey toward urban air travel and a perfect exam-ple of our From ChinaFor China mission.

“Our long-term aim is to industri- alize this concept and like a Flying Tiger, break new ground in this emerging and fast-evolving new mobility market," he added.

China's electric car startup,Xpeng is exploring the flying car market as well. Its subsidiary HT Aero,is scheduled to launch its first model in2024.

Last week, its first production plant for flying cars opened in Guangzhou, eapital of South Chinas Guangdong province.

Covering 35,000 square meters it includes two production workshops as well as a testing center.

Volvo-owner Geely was one of the first carmakers to enter the flying vehicle sector.In 2021it teamed up with German company Volocoptera specialist in the manufacture of autonomous air vehicles, to establish ajoint venture in Chengducapital of Southwest China's Sichuan province. The joint venture will take charge of production and market operations of Volocopter products in the Chi nese market:

It plans to help promote urban air

mobllity in Cbina oer the next thee to five years. The joi venture alk signed orders with Volocopter for 150

aircraft, including logistical

unmanned aerial vehicles and manned aircraft

The emerging flying vehicles sec tor is now viewed as a serious solu tion to urban traffic congestion and a new alternative to personal mobility in cities, said global financial services company Morgan Stanley

It estimates the sector will grow into a market worth $1 trillion by2040 and $9 trillion by2050.

Global consultancy Roland Berger estimates there will be up to 160,00 flying vehicles operating as air taxis by 2050.

It said there will primarily be three types of flying vehicles: city taxis with a range of15-50 km cater ing to inner-city transportation needs; airport shuttles with the same range to take travelers to and from airports; and intercityjets cov ering distances of up to 250 km that will provide services between major urban destinations.

Manfred Hader, a Roland Berger senior partner said:“By 2050air port shuttles and intercity services together will take the lion's share of the market, achieving about 90 per cent of revenue.”