Update | Flying taxis? Uber has a competitor in Chinese drone maker Ehang
Guangzhou government officials participate in test flight though some are doubtful flying taxis will become reality anytime soon
In Guangzhou earlier this month 40 people, including the deputy mayor of the southern Chinese province, lined up for a taste of the future of transport – an autonomous flying taxi. The Ehang 184 drone flew the passengers on round trips of up to 15 kilometres, with some reaching the top speed of 130km per hour.
The successful passenger flights by the Guangzhou-based company come as tech firms around the world race to launch new methods of mobility and carve out a slice of the fast-growing market.
“This makes you feel like you have travelled into the future, like you’re in a sci-fi movie. But this is real,” Ehang’s founder and chief executive Hu Huazhi said in a company video that showed footage of the flight tests.
“It’s so easy and stable, the operation is very simple. I’ve flown so many helicopters, but nothing feels like this.”
The successful manned flights of the Ehang 184 come as technology companies and governments seek new ways to optimise urban transport and mobility. Ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Didi, as well as Alphabet subsidiary Waymo, are testing autonomous driving technology which companies believe will improve safety on roads. Sharing autonomous cars could also eliminate the need for car ownership.