CES 2020: Hyundai develops air taxi and infrastructure pod.

Hyundai is seriously considering conquering the airspace in the future and transporting people and goods to a central distribution point (hub). From there, purpose-built vehicles (PBV) are intended to take people and goods to their respective destinations. Part of the concept will include air taxis. The UAM is based on four pillars: safe, quiet, affordable, and — once again — passenger-focused.

Hyundai recently showcased what this might look like in Las Vegas: The S-A1, a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) developed in collaboration with Uber, can take off and land vertically (eVTOL – electric vertical takeoff and landing) — and appears even larger than the Volocopter shown by Bell nearby. Hyundai's PAV has six rotors and is designed for up to five people. According to Hyundai, the maximum speed reaches 290 km/h, with a flight altitude specified between 300 and 600 meters. Importantly, the range is given as up to 100 kilometers. In the initial phase, a pilot will fly, and later, autonomous operation will be possible.

Additionally, Hyundai has introduced attractive pods: The "purpose-built vehicles" (PBV) provide another mobility solution. Inspired by the San Francisco cable car, the pod can be used as a shuttle or transport means. But it also serves well as an immobile object: for example, a stationary café, mini-hotel, clinic station, or pharmacy. Depending on usage, the adjustable size ranges between four and six meters. The upper and lower parts can be fully disassembled. Furthermore, the interior can be customized to individual needs by installing modular parts. The fully electric PBV can also be docked to a residential area.

The "purpose-built vehicle" (PBV) can also dock at the hub, on whose extendable roof the S-A1 air taxi lands. This way, the Personal Air Vehicle of the airspace would be connected with the Personal Built Vehicle on the ground. Like the PBV, the hub can also be individually adapted and turned into any number of spaces. For instance, the mobility hub can function as a cinema, museum, or concert hall, or as a medical complex with a clinic, doctor's office, and pharmacy, where patients land directly at the doctor's with the S-A1. The possibilities here are (almost) boundless.

Uber Elevate plans to provide airspace support services, ground transport connections, and customer interfaces through an aerial ride-share network. Both parties are also working together on infrastructure concepts to support takeoff and landing for this new class of vehicles.

What does this mean?

In addition to Toyota with "Woven City," Hyundai is also increasingly focusing on infrastructure projects. However, the airshuttle appears less innovative than the PBV, which can also be used statically.