Uber and Hyundai announce aerial ride share partnership

Uber and Hyundai announce aerial ride share partnership

Uber and Hyundai Motor Company have announced a new partnership to develop Uber Air Taxis for a future aerial ride share network.

In this partnership, Hyundai will produce and deploy the air vehicles, and Uber will provide airspace support services, connections to ground transportation, and customer interfaces through an aerial ride share network. Both parties are collaborating on infrastructure concepts to support take-off and landing for this new class of vehicles.

"Hyundai is our first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale. We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip. Combining Hyundai's manufacturing muscle with Uber's technology platform represents a giant leap forward for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years," said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate.

Hyundai has worked with Uber Elevate to develop a PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) model, S-A1. It is designed for a cruising speed up to 180 miles/hr, a cruising altitude of around 1,000-2,000 feet, and to fly trips up to 60 miles. It is 100 per cent electric and will be piloted initially, but over time they will become autonomous.