Hyundai Motor And Uber Will Soon Make Flying Cabs A Reality

• Hyundai revealed the Personal Air Vehicle and Purpose Built Vehicle.
• It is the first carmaker to join the Uber Elevate program for Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
• Uber Air Taxis may be produced at Hyundai manufacturing facilities.

The Consumer Electronics Show 2020 marked Hyundai Motor Company’s venture into aerial vehicles. Hyundai is the first carmaker to become part of the Uber Elevate program and might be the first to produce air taxis for the ride-hailing company. It revealed the Personal Air Vehicle (PAV), Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV), and Hub at the show. Hyundai believes it’s Urban Air Mobility concept (UAM) has the potential to alleviate gridlock in major cities.

Hyundai’s PAV is called the S-A1. It’s an electric flying taxi concept, that does not need a runway since it is capable of vertical take-off and landing. Initially, it will need a pilot. But, autonomous aircraft is the future says Hyundai. Don’t think of this as a replacement to your Uber, but just an addition. The S-A1 will have its own ‘airport’, called ‘The Hub’.

This is where the PAV will work in tandem with the other concept, the PBV. For, the ‘Hub’ will feature tunnels and stations for the vehicle at the ground level. Hyundai says the space can be customised to accommodate a school, hospital, or entertainment area.

PBV is an eco-friendly and customisable land transport concept that looks like a bus from the future. It will be battery-powered, autonomous, and modular. Hyundai says, “PBVs can function as a restaurant, coffee shop, and hotel, or even a clinic and pharmacy, in addition to being an urban shuttle.”

Hyundai has created a ‘Human-Centered City Advisory Group’ to study and brainstorm the issues associated with this future vision. The company stated that it will include “top global experts from fields such as psychology, architecture, urban design, transportation, and political science.”

“UAM, PBV, and Hub will revitalize cities by removing urban boundaries, giving people time to pursue their goals, and creating a diverse community,” said the Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai, Euisun Chung. We have a long way to go before Hyundai’s vision becomes reality, but Hyundai's concept promises to be malleable enough to work in the present and be future-proof.