INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Uber aims to speed development of a new industry of electric, on-demand, urban air taxis
(Reuters)
Uber Technologies Inc on
Wednesday re-opened a contest to select the first international city to launch its proposed flying taxi project, following apparent delays
in getting the service off the ground in Dubai, a previously proposed market.UberAIR, as the service will be known, aims to launch
demonstrator flights starting in 2020 and begin paid, intra-city operations in 2023, the company said.Last year, Uber named Dallas and Los
Angeles as its first launch cities and is now looking for a third, international metropolis to take part, Chief Product Officer Jeff Holden
announced at its annual Elevate Summit in Los Angeles.The company said it will consider cities with a metropolitan population of greater
than 2 million people, with dispersed population hubs, an airport at least an hour away from the city centre and which is willing to back
pooled ridesharing services.Uber previously named Dubai as its third launch city but said on Tuesday it had reopened its selection process
to include other cities which fit more of its criteria for showcasing how flying taxis can help to relieve urban congestion."Dubai has
previously expressed an interest in (Uber's) vision but we are broadening the pool given interest from other cities which is why we have
launched this criteria and process," a spokeswoman said, adding that discussions with Dubai continue.Uber aims to speed development of a new
industry of electric, on-demand, urban air taxis, which customers might order up via smartphone much the way it has popularised ground-based
taxi alternatives since it first launched in 2011.It envisions a fleet of electric jet-powered vehicles - part helicopter, part drone and
part fixed-wing aircraft - running multiple small rotors capable of both vertical take off and landing and rapid horizontal flight.The San
Francisco-based company is working with aviation regulators around the world to win up-front approvals, marking a break from past practices
that put it at odds with authorities.Cities interested in taking part can apply here (https://uber.com/air)
Uber said it was not looking for tax breaks or local incentives, but was keen to work with cities which can work to bring the project to
market as quickly as possible.© Thomson Reuters 2018(This story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is auto-generated
