Subaru and Suzuki showed off their flagship flying cars at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show (JMS) which took place this week. The presence of these two flying cars could actually be an alternative choice for air taxi needs in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) which will be inaugurated on August 17 2024.
It is known that currently IKN has collaborated with Hyundai to procure air taxis. Hyundai plans to provide the Hyundai S-A1 flying taxi to meet the need for green air transportation.
However, the presence of two flying cars on display by Suzuki and Subaru is actually an interesting choice. Suzuki itself is very confident in the flying car they made, Suzuki SkyDrive.
SkyDrive Founder and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa said the Suzuki SkyDrive flying car uses electric power so it is more environmentally friendly. Safety standards are also closely monitored, just like airplanes.
“Compared to helicopters, it is more environmentally friendly because it uses electric power. Apart from that, the sound is quieter than helicopters because it doesn’t use an aircraft engine,” he said.
He revealed that the Suzuki SkyDrive flying car was developed to move autonomously with a passenger capacity of three people.
“The flying car we are developing moves with upward thrust so it doesn’t require a large area like a helicopter. This is suitable for urban buildings,” he said.
When asked whether he was interested in entering Indonesia’s new capital, IKN in Kalimantan, which is touted as a smart city, he admitted he was interested. “Yes, we are interested, we will explore it,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa.
In the same place, the flying car made by Subaru is no less tempting, called Sport Mobility. Yusuke Ueda, Advertising Section, Marketing Planning Department, Japan Sales & Marketing Division, Subaru Corporation, said that the two concept vehicles they brought were Subaru’s dream of mobility in the future.
“In the world of aviation, where electrification and automation technologies are increasingly advancing, there are increasing expectations for new air mobility that will bring about an air mobility revolution. The Subaru Mobility Air Concept embodies the future of ‘free mobility’ that Subaru dreams of,” Ueda said.
It’s just that Subaru’s chances of expanding the flying taxi options at IKN are very small. The reason is that Subaru made this flying car as proof of technological achievements.
Although basically they claim to have carried out vertical flight and landing tests which were successful.
