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The original 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner was set in a dystopian ‘ future ’ of 2017 . In that movie , flying cars abound , darting between neon signs and soaring skyscrapers that would put Vegas and Dubai to shame .
The reality of urban mobility in 2022 is very different . Not only has air and land transport changed little since the 1960s , we are still highly reliant on fossil fuels for our daily commute .
Yes EVs are taking off , but not literally . That is , unless you follow the handful of projects that have moved beyond prototype into workable , autonomous , flying taxis . And while it is easy to dismiss some of the hundreds of projects as gimmicks destined to fail , there are some serious multinational players entering the flying fray .
Like Volkswagen . Recently the world ’ s second largest automobile manufacturer ( it held top position until overtaken by Toyota in 2020 ) unveiled the Flying Tiger – a drone-like electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing ( eVTOL ) vehicle from the group ’ s China division .
“ The launch of this stunning validation model is the first of many remarkable milestones on our exciting journey towards urban air travel , and a perfect example of our ‘ From China , For China ’ mission ,” says Dr Stephan Wöllenstein , CEO of Volkswagen Group China . sustainabilitymag . com 67