Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Just days after Marubeni Corporation announced a pre-order for up to 200 VX4 eVTOL (flying cars) from UK-based Vertical Aerospace, the two firms revealed that they were forming an alliance to serve the Japan market.
The ultimate aim of the alliance is to create one of the first eVTOL taxi services in Japan. It is said that this could, for example, make possible flights between Tokyo Station and Narita Airport with only 14 minutes of flight time. This compares with the 53 minutes it currently takes between these two points via the Narita Express train service.
In the earlier stages of the alliance, it will focus on matters such as conducting market research and investigating regulatory issues with related ministries and agencies. It will also look into the issue of developing vertiports, most likely in collaboration with other business partners.
Finally, the alliance will make efforts to foster social acceptance of flying car services.
The alliance hopes that the first air taxi services might begin in Japan in 2024 or 2025.
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