A Volocopter air taxi performing a demonstration in Singapore last October. — Reuters
“We believe strongly in our EV future and not just for vehicles,” she said at an RBC conference. “The strength and flexibility of our Ultium battery system opens doors” for many uses, she added, “including aerial mobility.” GM spokesman Stuart Fowle declined to elaborate. “It’s an area we’re really excited about and looking at.”
“I am not surprised that GM and others are looking into this,” said investor and corporate adviser Evangelos Simoudis, managing director of Synapse Partners. He noted that companies like Amazon.com and Walmart are pushing to use package delivery drones, but said transporting people with flying cars will take a lot longer to develop as a business.
Hyundai teamed up with Uber Technologies Inc in January to develop electric air taxis and has pledged to invest US$1.5 billion in urban air mobility by 2025.