Uber, Hyundai team up, bid for flying taxi in 2023

Is it a bird, or a plane? Nope. It’s a flying taxi!

The sky is the limit for Uber and Hyundai as they collaborated to launch flying taxis in the sky that will soon be seen flying in 2023, revolutionizing the ridesharing trips and putting it sky-high.

During the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 6, Uber and Hyundai unveiled a four-seater electric flying vehicle model which is promised to fly passengers for a ride in their destination via Uber’s app in the next two years.

A Hyundai spokesperson said the first actual vehicle model will be ready in 2023. Initially, the vehicle will have a pilot to maneuver it until the two companies develop and introduce software to autonomously fly it.

Hyundai appointed Jaiwon Shin in October to lead the project of developing an air taxi division. Uber is currently tied up with the helicopter manufacturer Bell and the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer.

“It’s going to be a while,” William Crossley, professor at Purdue University, said. “If things go well, it’s certainly plausible in the next 10 years.”

Hyundai and Uber have not yet conducted a test flight of the new vehicle. In the meantime, Uber is offering helicopter rides in Manhattan.