Uber targets 2020 for demo of flying car network

The tech company Uber, after riding customers on land, is now pitching to the skies.

While it may sound more like science fiction than reality, the company is targeting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai to launch the first Uber Elevate Network demonstration.

Uber unveiled on Tuesday at its Elevate Summit that it has struck partnerships with the cities of Dallas and Dubai to demonstrate flying cars by 2020.

The company also announced collaborations with aviation companies including Embraer and Bell Helicopter, envisioning to have its flying taxi service ready to transport customers as soon as 2023.

Though unbelievable but Uber is of the view that the service will cost about the same as its car rides.

While explaining the mechanism the company said that the electric vehicles will take off and land vertically like a helicopter, with zero emissions and minimal noise.

The prime benefit of the service will be the time cut down on commuter’s journey by flying over congested urban areas.

But the need of hour is to persuade customers and aviation authorities that the technology is safe. However, there are still huge questions over how to regulate both the testing and introduction of the technology.

Innovators are racing to capitalize on advances in electric power and artificial intelligence. Monday morning, Kitty Hawk released video of a prototype vehicle that can hover above water. The startup is backed by Google (GOOG) cofounder Larry Page. Airbus (EADSF), the French aviation giant, has announced its own plan for developing air taxis.