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Porsche and Boeing partner on Urban Air Mobility
October 15, 2019 By Wings Staff
Boeing, Porsche and Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences are developing a concept for a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. (Image: Boeing, Porsche) Porsche and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore what the companies describe as the premium urban air mobility market and the extension of urban traffic into airspace.
“Porsche is looking to enhance its scope as a sports car manufacturer by becoming a leading brand for premium mobility,” said Detlev von Platen, member of the executive board for sales and marketing at Porsche AG, based in Stuttgart, Germany. “In the longer term, this could mean moving into the third dimension of travel. We are combining the strengths of two leading global companies to address a potential key market segment of the future.”
As part of the partnership, the companies plan to create an international team to address various aspects of urban air mobility, including analysis of the market potential for premium vehicles and possible use cases.
Boeing, Porsche and Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences are also developing a concept for a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Engineers from both companies, as well as Porsche subsidiaries Porsche Engineering Services GmbH and Studio F.A. Porsche, will implement and test a prototype.
“This collaboration builds on our efforts to develop a safe and efficient new mobility ecosystem, and provides an opportunity to investigate the development of a premium urban air mobility vehicle with a leading automotive brand,” said Steve Nordlund, VP and GM of Boeing NeXt, which is focused on developing what it describes as a next-generation mobility ecosystem, in which autonomous and piloted vehicles can safely coexist. “Porsche and Boeing together bring precision engineering, style and innovation to accelerate urban air mobility worldwide.”
A 2018 study by Porsche Consulting forecasts that the urban air mobility market will pick up speed after 2025. The study also indicates that urban air mobility solutions will transport passengers more quickly and efficiently than current conventional means of terrestrial transport, at a lower cost and with greater flexibility.
