[CES2020] Hyundai Motor Teams Up with Uber to Open the 'Skyway'... Unveils Personal Aircraft Concept

Hyundai Motor-Uber Form Strategic Partnership in UAM Sector
Jointly Developed Full-Scale PAV Concept 'S-A1' Unveiled

Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi signed a cooperation agreement to promote the UAM (Urban Air Mobility) business at the Hyundai Motor exhibition hall during CES 2020, which opened on the 7th (local time). (Photo by Hyundai Motor)

[Las Vegas (USA) = Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Hyundai Motor Company and Uber have decided to collaborate in the urban air mobility (UAM) business sector based on personal aerial vehicles (PAVs). A full-scale PAV concept was also unveiled at 'CES 2020' held in Las Vegas, USA. With this, Hyundai became the first global automobile company to establish a strategic partnership with Uber in the UAM field.

On the 7th (local time), Chung Eui-sun, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, signed a 'cooperation agreement for promoting the UAM business' at Hyundai's exhibition hall at CES 2020. Notably, the signing ceremony took place in front of the full-scale Hyundai PAV concept 'S-A1' jointly developed by both companies.

Executive Vice Chairman Chung said, "Based on cooperation with Uber, we will actively pursue the development of new technologies and businesses that enable free human mobility," adding, "We will continuously innovate to redefine the limits of people's movement and become a company that offers more valuable time through that."

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated, "Hyundai's large-scale manufacturing capabilities will bring significant progress to Uber Elevate," and added, "If Hyundai's automotive industry experience extends to the air taxi business, Uber's platform aimed at the skies will accelerate further, enabling affordable and seamless transportation services in cities worldwide."

The S-A1 unveiled by Hyundai was completed through Uber's air taxi development process. Uber has opened its air taxi development process, established through joint research with NASA and others, to the public to help global PAV manufacturers set their development directions.

Hyundai will collaborate with 'Uber Elevate,' Uber's air taxi business promotion organization. Through this partnership, Hyundai will develop PAVs, and Uber will provide urban air mobility services to customers by utilizing its aerial ride-sharing network. Both companies also agreed to cooperate on developing concepts for PAV takeoff and landing sites.

The PAV 'S-A1' introduced by Hyundai has a wingspan of 15 meters and a length of 10.7 meters. It can accommodate a total of five people including the pilot and is equipped with electric propulsion vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) capabilities that allow flight without a runway. It features eight propellers and can fly up to approximately 100 km. The maximum flight speed is 290 km/h. After the stabilization of autonomous flight technology, it is planned to be developed for autonomous flight capability.

Starting with this concept, Hyundai plans to strengthen cooperation with Uber to develop world-class PAVs and integrate them with urban air mobility services to advance the UAM business.

Meanwhile, at the Hyundai media event held the previous day at 'CES 2020,' Hyundai unveiled a human-centered future mobility vision based on close connectivity among UAM, purpose-built vehicles (PBV), and mobility transfer hubs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.