Volkswagen unveiled the V.M.O., the first eVTOL from the traditional German carmaker. The vehicle, also known as the Flying Tiger, is the result of a project launched at its China facility in 2020 to explore new mobility solutions, including Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
With a luxury x-wing configuration of 11.2m in length and a span width of 10.6m, the model features eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight.
The company will conduct several flight tests later this year to optimize the concept and an improved prototype will undergo further advanced test flights by late summer 2023. In its final future iteration, the eVTOL could eventually carry four passengers plus luggage over a distance of up to 200km.
To develop the vertical mobility project, Volkswagen formed a team of young local experts. They have been supported by Chinese partners including Hunan Sunward Technology, a company specialized in aviation product development.
Volkswagen said that as the project develops, the company will work with the relevant Chinese authorities to achieve certification.
“Through this pilot project, we are bringing Volkswagen’s long tradition of precision engineering, design, and innovation to the next level, by developing a premium product that will serve the vertical mobility needs of our future tech savvy Chinese customers.”
Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China.
