Volkswagen’s Chinese subsidiary confirmed its intention to develop an eVTOL aircraft. Plans unveiled in Beijing on July 27 show an early prototype of a four-passenger eVTOL that the company says will be able to fly up to 200 kilometers (125 miles). It will feature eight rotors installed on an X-wing structure and a pair of propellers for cruise flight.
According to Volkswagen Group (China), the design has been developed by the Air Mobility Project, which the company launched in 2020. Flight testing with the first demonstrator model, designated V.MO, could start during the second half of this year, with an improved prototype to be prepared for “a higher standard of flight test” in the summer of 2023, Volkswagen said. However, the company has not published a projected timeline for certification and market entry.
According to Germany-based Volkswagen, which includes brands such as Porsche, it views wealthy Chinese customers as likely early adopters of what it calls a “high-end travel concept.” The company has not specified whether it intends to operate the aircraft itself or market them to existing or new commercial operators but refers to plans for “VIP air shuttle services” that would fly within and between cities.
Want more? You can find a longer version of this article at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology.
