Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Wakayama Governor Shuhei Kishimoto made it clear at a press conference on January 30 that his administration is keenly interested in bringing the benefits of “flying cars” (eVTOL) to his prefecture in western Japan.
“We are considering the possibility of regional revitalization using flying cars,” the governor said. “It is a very attractive project, so I would like to work on it together with our officials.”
Kishimoto revealed that Wakayama will sign an agreement at the prefectural office on February 5 with three firms—IHI Corporation and Chodai of Tokyo, and Nankai Electric Railway Company of Osaka.
The agreement will cover matters such as the promotion of flying cars, the holding of demonstration flights, and drawing up plans to use eVTOLs in local tourism projects. One specific item concerns the construction of vertiports at yet-to-be-determined locations. The first test flights may take place before the end of this year.
Advanced Air Mobility has been designated a major theme of next year’s World Expo in neighboring Osaka, and Wakayama hopes to benefit from the regional development of this industry.
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