Hyundai Motor Group unveiled a blueprint for its air taxi and surrounding mobility services during the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Tuesday (KST).
At a press conference on the sidelines of this year’s tech fair held in the U.S. desert city of Las Vegas, the South Korean automotive group also displayed its replica of a concept aircraft for an air taxi service, which it developed under the partnership with Uber.
During the conference, the group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun introduced a mobility ecosystem comprised of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV) and Hub ― respectively functioning as aircraft, shuttles and air taxi stations.
“For our smart mobility solutions, we considered what truly matters in cities and in people’s lives. UAM, PBV, and Hub will revitalize cities by removing urban boundaries, giving people time to pursue their goals, and creating a diverse community,” Chung said. “The evolution of mobility is about creating quality time to enrich people’s lives. We want to shape a future where cities are vitalized with the help of our mobility solutions,” he said.
“We want to bring joy to people’s lives by connecting people in meaningful ways and liberating them from limitations.”
UAM refers to the flying vehicle and air taxi services it provides. By providing more accessible and affordable air mobility services, the group said UAM is aimed at seeking “liberation from gridlock” and “democratization of flight.”
“We are looking at the dawn of a completely new era that will open the skies above our cities,” said Shin Jai-won, Hyundai Motor head of the urban air mobility division. “UAM will liberate people from gridlock and reclaim time for people to invest in activities they care about and enjoy.”