Image source: Cativator via bbc.co.uk
The Japanese government has decided that building roads is not going to reduce traffic congestion and has instead plumped for a future in which flying cars become the panacea for the nation’s traffic issues, with the side benefit that they may well boost tourism as well.
Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi novel, but the Government in Japan is dead serious about becoming the leader in developing aerial vehicles. To achieve this, it has assembled a veritable dream team of companies to achieve its aims—well, at least according to a press release from the Japanese Trade Ministry.
Thus far, a total of 21 companies have signed up to participate in the Japanese Government lead initiative to create a Japanese flying car. These include some of the biggest players in the field of flying and autonomous car development, including the likes of Boeing, Airbus and Uber. The plan is to meet his month to create a plan that will make urban aerial transportation a reality within a decade.
Not everyone believes that flying cars are the future. Industry notables like Elon Musk do not believe that flying cars are ‘scalable’, which is probably why Space X and Tesla have not joined in with the initiative. A future with flying cars has been the stuff of science fiction, that is why so many companies are trying so hard to make it a reality. The likes of Airbus truly believe that they will have at least a working prototype ready by year-end and of course Larry Page, the guy that started Google, is pushing for his own with the company Zee Aero.
To make it happen though, most believe that it will take big government involvement, and this is precisely why the Japanese Government is involving itself. Small issues like safety standards are crucial and by being a leader, the Japanese Government will set the standards for the global industry, or at least that would appear to be what it hopes.
It will be some time before we will know if Team Japan is capable of meeting its rather lofty ambitions, but if it fails, it won’t be because they picked the wrong partners.
