VW Reveals Autonomous Flying Taxi

The Chinese arm of the German automotive giant has revealed the V.MO, or the Flying Tiger as it’s been nicknamed because of its distinctive black and gold color scheme. And although only a prototype at this stage, the “passenger drone’” – as VW has described it – is likely to make production, offering transport for four people and their luggage over a distance of 124 miles). A top speed of 124 mph is planned, and it will have the capability to operate autonomously or with a pilot if desired. The V.MO is the first validation model created since the Volkswagen Group China launched its Vertical Mobility Project in 2020, intending to investigate mobility solutions, including the urban air mobility market and the expansion of urban traffic into airspace. The eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft is said to be based on existing autonomous driving solutions and battery technology for emissions-free mobility. It measures 36 feet in terms of length and has a span width of 34 feet, plus features eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight.