Volocopter, a German company founded to bring its multirotor helicopter concept to market (see Helicopter Industry No. 79), announced in early August that it had raised €25 million in funds from backers including Daimler, Berlin-based investor Lukasz Gadowski, and others, whose identities were not revealed. The young inventors and entrepreneurs running Volocopter said the financial support would allow them to manufacture their first aircraft in a mass-production run.
At the same time, they announced that by the end of the year they would take advantage of an invitation from Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to begin testing the automatic flying taxi in the city. By 2030, the Gulf State estimates 25% of taxi passengers in Dubai will travel in this seemingly futuristic airborne vehicle.
By François Blanc
©photo: E-VOLO, BYNIKOLAYKAZAKOV
