Porsche and Boeing to partner on premium urban air mobility market; electric VTOL concept
10 October 2019
Porsche and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the premium urban air mobility market and the extension of urban traffic into airspace. With this partnership, both companies will leverage their respective market strengths and insights to study the future of premium urban air mobility vehicles.
As part of the partnership, the companies will create an international team to address various aspects of urban air mobility, including analysis of the market potential for premium vehicles and possible use cases.
Porsche is looking to enhance its scope as a sports car manufacturer by becoming a leading brand for premium mobility. In the longer term, this could mean moving into the third dimension of travel. We are combining the strengths of two leading global companies to address a potential key market segment of the future.
—Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG
Boeing, Porsche and Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, are developing a concept for a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTOL). Engineers from both companies, as well as Porsche subsidiaries Porsche Engineering Services GmbH and Studio F.A. Porsche, will implement and test a prototype.
This collaboration builds on our efforts to develop a safe and efficient new mobility ecosystem, and provides an opportunity to investigate the development of a premium urban air mobility vehicle with a leading automotive brand. Porsche and Boeing together bring precision engineering, style and innovation to accelerate urban air mobility worldwide.
—Steve Nordlund, Vice President and General Manager Boeing NeXt
Boeing NeXt is working on the foundation for a next-generation mobility ecosystem in which autonomous and piloted vehicles can safely coexist.
A 2018 study by Porsche Consulting forecasts that the urban air mobility market will pick up speed after 2025. The study also indicates that urban air mobility solutions will transport passengers more quickly and efficiently than current conventional means of terrestrial transport, at a lower cost and with greater flexibility.
They should make sure FAA will approve first.
Posted by: SJC | 11 October 2019 at 01:37 AM
I'm not sure that I would want to live in a city with loads of quad and helicopters whirring overhead.
Also, if you have a lot of them, you'll have very disturbed air, which is not safe to fly in.
(See wake vortices).
Posted by: mahonj | 11 October 2019 at 04:50 AM
Regardless of FAA's reluctance, clean-safe electric air passenger-cargo vehicles are coming. China will most probably lead in that field too.
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 October 2019 at 07:32 AM
FAA has THE final say, there is no "regardless".
Posted by: SJC | 11 October 2019 at 09:37 AM
Including the Boeing 737 Max?
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 October 2019 at 11:37 AM
@SJC
The Federal Aviation Authority has the final say in China?
Strange!
Posted by: Davemart | 11 October 2019 at 12:08 PM
Don't be a moron like EP.
The U.S. is a large market, investors should know about the FAA .
If China wants flying vehicles crashing through roof tops,
that is their concern.
Posted by: SJC | 11 October 2019 at 01:02 PM
The Chinese will not be allowed to fly nor sell in the U.S. without FAA certification.
Posted by: SJC | 12 October 2019 at 08:36 AM
The Chinese will not be allowed to fly nor sell in the U.S. without FAA certification.
Posted by: SJC | 12 October 2019 at 08:36 AM
All flying machines have to be approved by FAA to fly in USA and by CAAC to fly in China.
Most if not all countries have similar procedures.
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 October 2019 at 12:00 PM
China is now the number one economy (and growing faster) and will most probably be the largest user of that type of vehicle?
Posted by: HarveyD | 13 October 2019 at 10:41 AM