Latest news with #AirCar
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
World's first mass-produced flying car to go on sale for $1M
By It might sound like something from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - but flying cars could soon be jetting passengers around Europe by next year. Slovakia-based company Klein Vision claims its 'AirCar' – the world's first mass-produced flying car – will go on sale in early 2026. Styled like a sports coupe, the bizarre hybrid – which has four wheels and two wings – builds speed along a runway before lifting into the air. The two-seater can release its retractable wings in less than two minutes as it prepares for take-off, before stowing them away again at its destination. Stefan Klein, founder of Klein Vision, said AirCar 'fulfills a lifelong dream' to bring passenger flight 'into the hands of everyday people'. 'With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves – merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility,' he said. Klein Vision estimates the vehicle will go on sale in the first three months of 2026 – but it won't come cheap. A company spokesperson told MailOnline that the vehicle will start at $800,000 (£600,000) but could go up to $1 million (£750,000) depending on specs. For example, buyers would be able to choose between a 280, 320 and 340 horsepower engine. Following successful test flights , Klein Vision said the latest version of is AirCar prototype is now being worked on and tested. But new promo images give an idea of what 'AirCar 2' will look like when it performs its first flight, due to happen in September. AirCar traverses about 980 feet (300 metres) of runway space reaching speeds up to 124mph but has a cruising speed of 155mph once in the air. It runs on regular petrol-pump fuel and can carry two people to a maximum altitude of 18,000 feet thanks to a propeller between the fuselage and tail. Although powered by petrol, AirCar will go electric 'as soon as the energy density of the batteries is good enough', co-founder Anton Zajac told The Next Web . When it does go on sale, AirCar will be suited for leisure trips or as a commercial Uber-style taxi service, its developers say. At the touch of the button, the pilot can unfold and release two wings in preparation for take-off in the space of two minutes, which are safely refolded and stored in the body of the vehicle upon landing. The original AirCar has already successfully completed over 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings. Last year, KleinVision completed the first passenger flight of AirCar with none other than French musician Jean-Michel Jarre on board. While seated in the quirky hybrid vehicle, Jarre and a pilot travelled around two miles in the space of 10 minutes over Piešťany Airport in Slovakia. Jean-Michel Jarre, a pioneer in the electronic and ambient music genres, described the experience as like being in a 'Jules Verne book' – a reference to the 19th century novelist known for sci-fi works including 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. 'One second you speak to the driver, and next, you are up there in the air – an amazing experience,' Jarre said. Also last year, James May, former host of Top Gear, visited Klein Vision and witnessed the AirCar in action at an international airport in Slovakia The broadcaster said: 'The AirCar has landed. Very rarely am I lost for words, but I am lost for words!' In its home country of Slovakia, AirCar received the Certificate of Airworthiness in January 2022, permitting commercial passengers and opening the door for mass production of the vehicle. And in the UK, £20 million of government funding has been allocated for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to make flying taxis a reality. Last week, Mike Kane, the UK government's Transport Minister, said there will be flying taxis over British skies in just three years' time – with the first piloted flying taxi flight by 2026. So if you purchase the AirCar, it might not be authorised to fly in the UK by next year. According to Morgan Stanley, the global market for flying cars is expected to hit $1 trillion in 2040, before jumping to a whopping $9 trillion in 2050. Widespread adoption of flying vehicles will make use of the vast empty space in the air while greatly reducing congestion on roads. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
World's first mass-produced flying car will go on sale within months - for $1 MILLION
It might sound like something from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - but flying cars could soon be jetting passengers around Europe by next year. Slovakia-based company Klein Vision claims its 'AirCar' – the world's first mass-produced flying car – will go on sale in early 2026. Styled like a sports coupe, the bizarre hybrid – which has four wheels and two wings – builds speed along a runway before lifting into the air. The two-seater can release its retractable wings in less than two minutes as it prepares for take-off, before stowing them away again at its destination. Stefan Klein, founder of Klein Vision, said AirCar 'fulfills a lifelong dream' to bring passenger flight 'into the hands of everyday people'. 'With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves – merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility,' he said. Klein Vision estimates the vehicle will go on sale in the first three months of 2026 – but it won't come cheap. A company spokesperson told MailOnline that the vehicle will start at $800,000 (£600,000) but could go up to $1 million (£750,000) depending on specs. For example, buyers would be able to choose between a 280, 320 and 340 horsepower engine. Following successful test flights, Klein Vision said the latest version of is AirCar prototype is now being worked on and tested. But new promo images give an idea of what 'AirCar 2' will look like when it performs its first flight, due to happen in September. AirCar traverses about 980 feet (300 metres) of runway space reaching speeds up to 124mph but has a cruising speed of 155mph once in the air. It runs on regular petrol-pump fuel and can carry two people to a maximum altitude of 18,000 feet thanks to a propeller between the fuselage and tail. Although powered by petrol, AirCar will go electric 'as soon as the energy density of the batteries is good enough', co-founder Anton Zajac told The Next Web. When it does go on sale, AirCar will be suited for leisure trips or as a commercial Uber-style taxi service, its developers say. At the touch of the button, the pilot can unfold and release two wings in preparation for take-off in the space of two minutes, which are safely refolded and stored in the body of the vehicle upon landing. Klein Vision says: 'This revolutionary vehicle is capable of automatic transformation from car to aircraft in less than two minutes' The original AirCar has already successfully completed over 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings. Last year, KleinVision completed the first passenger flight of AirCar with none other than French musician Jean-Michel Jarre on board. While seated in the quirky hybrid vehicle, Jarre and a pilot travelled around two miles in the space of 10 minutes over Piešťany Airport in Slovakia. Jean-Michel Jarre, a pioneer in the electronic and ambient music genres, described the experience as like being in a 'Jules Verne book' – a reference to the 19th century novelist known for sci-fi works including 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. 'One second you speak to the driver, and next, you are up there in the air – an amazing experience,' Jarre said. Also last year, James May, former host of Top Gear, visited Klein Vision and witnessed the AirCar in action at an international airport in Slovakia The broadcaster said: 'The AirCar has landed. Very rarely am I lost for words, but I am lost for words!' In its home country of Slovakia, AirCar received the Certificate of Airworthiness in January 2022, permitting commercial passengers and opening the door for mass production of the vehicle. And in the UK, £20 million of government funding has been allocated for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to make flying taxis a reality. Last week, Mike Kane, the UK government's Transport Minister, said there will be flying taxis over British skies in just three years' time – with the first piloted flying taxi flight by 2026. So if you purchase the AirCar, it might not be authorised to fly in the UK by next year. According to Morgan Stanley, the global market for flying cars is expected to hit $1 trillion in 2040, before jumping to a whopping $9 trillion in 2050. Widespread adoption of flying vehicles will make use of the vast empty space in the air while greatly reducing congestion on roads. WHAT TYPE OF FLYING TAXIS COULD WE EXPECT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE? Advances in electric motors, battery technology and autonomous software has triggered an explosion in the field of electric air taxis. Larry Page, CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, has poured millions into aviation start-ups Zee Aero and Kitty Hawk, which are both striving to create all-electric flying cabs. Kitty Hawk is believed to be developing a flying car and has already filed more than a dozen different aircraft registrations with the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA. Page, who co-founded Google with Sergey Brin back in 1998, has personally invested $100 million (£70 million) into the two companies, which have yet to publicly acknowledge or demonstrate their technology. Airbus is also hard at work on an all-electric, vertical-take-off-and-landing craft, with its latest Project Vahana prototype, branded Alpha One, successfully completing its maiden test flight in February 2018. The self-piloted helicopter reached a height of 16 feet (five metres) before successfully returning to the ground. In total, the test flight lasted 53 seconds. Airbus previously shared a well-produced concept video, showcasing its vision for Project Vahana. The footage reveals a sleek self-flying aircraft that seats one passenger under a canopy that retracts in similar way to a motorcycle helmet visor. AirSpaceX is another company with ambitions to take commuters to the skies. The Detroit-based start-up has promised to deploy 2,500 aircrafts in the 50 largest cities in the United States by 2026. AirSpaceX unveiled its latest prototype, Mobi-One, at the North American International Auto Show in early 2018. Like its closest rivals, the electric aircraft is designed to carry two to four passengers and is capable of vertical take-off and landing. AirSpaceX has even included broadband connectivity for high speed internet access so you can check your Facebook News Feed as you fly to work. Aside from passenger and cargo services, AirSpaceX says the craft can also be used for medical and casualty evacuation, as well as tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). Even Uber is working on making its ride-hailing service airborne. Dubbed Uber Elevate, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tentatively discussed the company's plans during a technology conference in January 2018. 'I think it's going to happen within the next 10 years,' he said.
Express Tribune
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Klein Vision to launch first mass-produced flying car in 2026 with a price tag up to $1 million
Klein Vision has announced that its AirCar, the first mass-produced flying car certified for flight, will be available for purchase starting in early 2026. The vehicle is expected to be priced between $800,000 and $1 million, according to a company spokesperson. Klein Vision has certified their flying car, AirCar, which transforms into an airplane in only 90 seconds. Sales are set to begin in early 2026 at a starting price of $800,000. — Pop Base (@PopBase) May 15, 2025 The AirCar marks the first flying car produced in over 75 years and was recently showcased at the Living Legends of Aviation Gala in Beverly Hills. The event honoured company founder Stefan Klein with the Special Recognition Award for Engineering Excellence. Stefan Klein said, 'The AirCar fulfills a lifelong dream to bring the freedom of flight into the hands of everyday people.' The aircraft has completed 170 flight hours and over 500 takeoffs and landings. With a cruising flight speed of 135 knots (155 mph), it also boasts a range of 620 miles and can reach an altitude of 10,000 feet, potentially more with oxygen support. Anton Zajac, Klein Vision's co-founder, noted that the AirCar also performs on the road. It can drive up to 497 miles with a top speed of 124 mph. The transformation from car to aircraft takes less than two minutes, featuring retractable wings, a folding tail and parachute system. Zajac added, 'The goal was to build a sports car that behaves like one, and in aircraft mode, it behaves exactly like an aircraft with zero compromise.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This $1M flying car can reach speeds of 155 mph
A Slovakian startup working to make the age-old dream of flying cars a reality says it has a new prototype that could ship as early as 2026. Klein Vision, which has spent the past three decades developing its 'AirCar,' has already completed over 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings. It also became one of the first vehicles of its kind to receive a certificate of airworthiness back in 2022. Now, the company says it's ready to shift out of the testing phase and into production. Whether it can actually get there, however, remains far from certain. Many companies have tried—and failed—to bring flying cars to life. Klein Vision claims its Jetsons-like vehicle can transform from a four-wheel car into a fixed-wing aircraft in under two minutes. Video demonstrations of its transition from flight mode to driving show the two wings retracting and folding in on themselves, somewhat resembling a hardtop convertible. Once in car mode, the company says it generates downforce using a spoiler and elevator pitch. The newest iteration of the vehicle can reportedly reach top speeds of 124 mph on the road and 155 mph in the air, with a maximum flight range of around 1,000 kilometers. (620 miles). 'The AirCar is a fusion of certified aviation engineering and advanced automotive design—a true dual-mode vehicle that meets rigorous standards in both air and ground performance,' AirCar co-founder Anton Zajac said in a statement. The company did not immediately respond to Popular Science's request for comment, but told The Next Web that it hopes to start shipping to customers as early as 2026, with an estimated price between $800,000 and $1 million. According to The Next Web, the newly announced model includes several noteworthy improvements. It features a 280-horsepower motor—double the power of the previous version. It can also fly longer, drive farther, and switch between modes slightly faster. The first iteration of the AirCar received a Certificate of Airworthiness from the Slovak Transport Authority after completing 70 hours of 'rigorous flight testing,' according to the company. This newest version will also need to receive certification before it can legally take to the skies. But even if the new and improved AirCar finds buyers, potential owners shouldn't expect their expensive new toy to soar over rush hour traffic. In car mode, the AirCar can, in theory, operate much like any other road vehicle. Those looking to fly it, however, will first need to drive to an airport and take off from a runway. For now, the AirCar's flight path is limited to travel between airports. The video below shows the original AirCar making its maiden flight back in 2021. Dreams of functional flying cars date back to the days of Henry Ford in the early 1900s. For now, they remain primarily in the realm of fiction, but that might be changing ever so slightly. Startups like Terrafugia and Moller Skycar have previously demonstrated the ability to transform between car and plane modes, but neither were able to successfully bring their vehicles to a commercial market. Terrafugia actually received a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, but it has since reportedly shuttered its US operations after being acquired by the Chinese firm Geely back in 2017. Moller Skycar famously listed its flagship vehicle on eBay that same year—with the caveat that the buyer would not be legally allowed to fly it. Where there's significantly more commercial activity currently ongoing is in the closely related area of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicles. These vehicles have wheels but are intended to be able to lift off into the air without the need for a runway. In practical terms, they are somewhere in between a flying car and a helicopter. The two leading companies in that space, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, have already struck deals with airlines in the US and the U.K to transport passengers between airports and helicopter pads. In theory, that would allow time-crunched travellers to bypass traffic on busy streets. Related: [These new flying taxis offer a glimpse at our future commutes] But those use cases are still a far cry from the vision many futurists have of personal flying cars swarming city skies. Many of the obstacles keeping that vision grounded go beyond the technology itself. Current certification processes mean owners of these vehicles would need to acquire a pilot's license to operate them. Federal and local regulators would also need to radically reimagine traffic logistics and safety rules to accommodate what would essentially be a new dimension of navigation. There's also the very real concern about what happens if one of these flying cars falls out of the sky. The far more likely scenario is that a handful of airworthy car-plane hybrids may reach the market—but remain confined to use as expensive toys for wealthy enthusiasts.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Company unveils world's first mass-produced flying car
Stefan Klein, founder of Klein Vision, said: "The AirCar fulfills a lifelong dream to bring the freedom of flight into the hands of everyday people. "With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves - merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility." Todd Douglas Miller, Emmy Award-winning director of the documentary Apollo 11, who attended the gala, said: "From the cockpit of another aircraft, I watched the AirCar in flight. Stefan Klein and Klein Vision have turned the impossible into reality, merging dreams and science fiction into something breathtakingly real." Last year, James May, former host of Top Gear, visited Klein Vision and witnessed the AirCar in action at an international airport in Slovakia. He said: "The AirCar has landed. Very rarely am I lost for words, but I am lost for words!" The post Company unveils world's first mass-produced flying car appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
