Shin Jae-won, president of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group, recently announced the establishment of a new company called Supernal, headquartered in the United States, and he is also the CEO of the company, personally leading its autonomous electric flying taxi project, and plans to officially launch passenger flights in 2028.
The newly formed Supernal company is reportedly developing a line of autonomous electric flying cars, most likely the S-A1 flying taxi designed with Uber, first disclosed by Hyundai Motor in 2020.
South Korea's Hyundai Motor co-designed the vertical take-off and landing electric autonomous flight car S-A1 in cooperation with Uber corporation in the United States.
It is a vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL), 100% electric, propulsion using distributed electricity, and will take about 5 to 7 minutes to charge during peak periods.
The power supply powers the rotors and propellers around the fuselage, improving safety by reducing any single point of failure.
Having several smaller rotors also reduces noise compared to large rotor helicopters with internal combustion engines, which is very important for cities.
The S-A1 can be driven, but Hyundai and Uber have said they hope flying taxis can drive themselves.
The S-A1 was designed with four passenger seats.
It is reported that the S-A1 has designed four passenger seats to allow passengers to easily get on and off the bus, and there is enough space for personal backpacks.
The vehicles, which are not seen as a replacement for commercial aircraft, will be used exclusively for "routes around the city and near the city", for short flights between "pop-up airports" within and around the city.
The "pop-up airport" is a "pop-up" elevated platform where after an electric flying car lands, the platform moves down into the hangar. Electric flying cars can then be pushed to different parts of the site, where they can be recharged, cleaned, and inspected and passengers for maintenance purposes. The designers say the integrated hangar could also feature a bookstore or a café.
The "pop-up airport" is a "pop-up" elevated platform where after an electric flying car lands, the platform moves down into the hangar.
The S-A1 is designed to fly up to 60 miles and cruising at speeds of up to 180 mph and can be used at altitudes of 1,000 to 2,000 feet.
Supernal's goal is to get its first car U.S. certified by 2024, followed by its first commercial flight in 2028, about 4 years later.
Dr. Shen Jiawang is an internationally renowned aeronautical engineer who led NASA's Aeronautical Research Mission and has been involved in NASA's aviation research and development strategy for more than 10 years.
Hyundai has partnered with British startup Urban-Air Port to plan an eVTOL pop-up airport in Coventry next year, Air One.
Earlier this year, Hyundai partnered with British startup Urban-Air Port to plan to open its eVTOL pop-up airport, Air-One, in Coventry next year.
Experts say the so-called "urban air mobility revolution" is estimated to be worth nearly £1 trillion over the next 20 years as Hyundai and the UK government invest in eVTOL and the infrastructure needed.
Text/Nandu reporter Chen Lin