Mexican Media Brands
Daimler Invests in Flying Taxi Startup
German startup Volocopter GmbH says it has received 25 million euros ($30 million) in funding from Daimler AG and other investors to launch the flying electric taxi the company is developing.
Share
German startup Volocopter GmbH says it has received 25 million euros ($30 million) in funding from Daimler AG and other investors to launch the flying electric taxi the company is developing.
Volocopter plans to demonstrate its prototype 2X model later this year in Dubai and launch commercial applications as early as next year. The company is in the process of hiring additional engineers to accelerate development and testing of the vehicle.
The two-seat 2X features a mix of propellers, electric motors, accumulators, 18 rotors, nine batteries and more than 100 microprocessors. Volocopter says the vertical takeoff device can travel 17 miles and has a top airspeed of about 60 mph. The 2X weighs 640 lbs and can carry an additional 350 lbs.
Volocopter aims to tap into Daimler’s expertise in autonomous and electric vehicles. The new investors also includes tech entrepreneur and Delivery Hero board member Lukasz Gadowski, who Volocopter hopes will help it scale up its operations for production.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Kroger Tests Self-Driving Grocery Delivery Service
The Kroger Co. and Silicon Valley startup Nuro launched a pilot program for autonomous grocery delivery this week in Scottsdale, Ariz.
-
On Ford Maverick, Toyota Tundra Hybrid, and GM's Factory Footprint
GM is transforming its approach to the auto market—and its factories. Ford builds a small truck for the urban market. Toyota builds a full-size pickup and uses a hybrid instead of a diesel. And Faurecia thinks that hydrogen is where the industry is going.
-
Flying Car Flight of Fancy Gets Real
People have been dreaming about flying cars since the early days of the auto and aircraft industries.
