Volkswagen V.MO eVTOL Passenger Drone Prototype Unveiled - Meet The Flying Tiger

The V.MO eVTOL passenger drone prototype is based on existing autonomous driving solutions and battery technology for emission-free mobility. The V.MO eVTOL prototype features what Volkswagen calls a luxury X-wing configuration of 11.2 metres in length and a span width of 10.6 metres.

The V.MO eVTOL features 8 rotors for vertical lift along with two propellers that help the passenger carrying drone to fly horizontally through the air. Volkswagen China will conduct several test flights of the V.MO prototype later this year to help optimize the prototype drone.

The improved prototype will undergo further testing next year in the summer of 2023. Volkswagen claims that in its final production spec, the V.MO eVTOL will be able to autonomously transport as many as 4 passengers plus luggage over a distance of up to 200 kilometres on a single charge of its electric powertrain.

Speaking about the V.MO eVTOL passenger drone prototype at its unveiling, Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said: "Through this pilot project, we are bringing Volkswagen's long tradition of precision engineering, design, and innovation to the next level, by developing a premium product that will serve the vertical mobility needs of our future tech savvy Chinese customers. This is a pioneering project which our young team of Chinese experts started from scratch - they are working with new design concepts and materials while developing new safety standards, disrupting and innovating every step of the way. The launch of this stunning validation model - the V.MO - is the first of many remarkable milestones on our exciting journey towards urban air travel, and a perfect example of our 'From China, For China' mission. Our long-term aim is to industrialize this concept and, like a 'Flying Tiger', break new ground in this emerging and fast-evolving new mobility market."

Volkswagen claims that urban air mobility is set to play a significant role in the future of urban and intercity transportation in China's congested megacities. Volkswagen states that the V.MO will initially be pitched as a premium product for high-net worth tech savvy in the country. The automaker has stated that as its Vertical Mobility Project (started in 2020) grows, it will work with relevant Chinese authorities to achieve certification for its aerial vehicles.

Thoughts About The Volkswagen V.MO

The Volkswagen V.MO is an autonomous eVTOL aircraft prototype that the automaker could change the way people travel in the future. With other automakers like Hyundai also exploring eVTOL drones, the future may very well be aerial.