It looks like a mix of helicopter and drone: In Stuttgart, a so-called Volocopter - a flight taxi - took off for its first flight in a European city on Saturday. For well over four minutes, the electrically driven vehicle with 18 rotors made its rounds - without passengers. A pilot controlled the aircraft from the ground.
The flight is part of a research project of the state government and the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences. Visitors should be asked before and after the flight whether they could imagine replacing the taxi ride to the airport with such a vehicle. Would people accept such taxis as a means of transport?
The answers have not been evaluated yet. But the idea is linked to different hopes and financial interests.
The Bruchsal start-up, for example, also involved the carmaker Daimler, who sees a business here for the future: "I am convinced that we can solve the congestion problem in the cities on specific routes in this way," said CEO Ola Källenius briefly before the test flight of the Volocopter.
Vision: Flight taxis in smog-plagued megacities
Daimler and major Chinese shareholder Geely had recently announced plans to expand their cooperation to include airline taxis. To this end, the Chinese group is entering a financing round at Volocopter. Daimler has been involved since 2017. The helicopter-like taxis with electric drive are to be used mainly in stagnant and smoggeplagten megacities, inter alia, in China.
Geely and Volocopter want to start a joint venture to "bring air mobility into the important Chinese market". Geely joined the Daimler Group in February 2018 with 9.7 percent of the shares, thus becoming the largest shareholder in one fell swoop. Since then, the Swabians and the Chinese have been exploring ways to work together effectively.
Led by Geely, Volocopter raised € 50 million in the final round of financing, bringing the total so far to € 85 million from investors. The founders remain major shareholders. Towards the end of the year Volocopter wants to raise more money. The company is not the only one pursuing the vision of flying taxis.
"Nothing moves as much as attractive pictures for the future"
The Volocopter had completed its completely autonomous maiden flight two years ago in Dubai. For a commercial operation is still missing the approval. Volocopter boss Florian Reuter expects it in two to three years. Flights without a pilot are likely to take even longer.
Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) is certainly campaigning vigorously. "Of course that would be an optimal device for me too," he said. For the moment he is glad that people have such ideas. "Nothing moves as much as attractive pictures for the future."