Flying Taxi Tested in Dubai

German startup Volocopter GmbH this week demonstrated its prototype “2X” flying taxi in Dubai.

The two-seat, vertical takeoff device is powered by an array of 18 motors, nine batteries and more than 100 microprocessors. Volocopter says the vehicle can travel 17 miles and has a top airspeed of about 60 mph.

Volocopter, which received €25 million ($30 million) in funding from Daimler AG and other investors in August, aims to launch commercial flights in Dubai in the next few years. The company expects to tap into Daimler’s expertise in autonomous and electric vehicles.