Science-fiction movies are one step closer to reality as Lilium is buidling the first-ever all electric flying taxi

The German start-up has secured $90 million to build the first ever electric flying taxi. More than that, the company will use the money to grow the company’s team of more than 70 people.

The flying vehicle will be just as seen in the movies: it will be able to stay aloft for about an hour and travel at speeds in excess of 180 mph. More than that, clients will be able to order their flying ride to a nearby landing pad.

Among those who financed the project are Tencent, Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström’s Atomico, Twitter co-founder Ev Williams’ Obvious Ventures, and private banking group LGT.

“This is the next stage in our rapid evolution from an idea to the production of a commercially successful aircraft that will revolutionize the way we travel in and around the world’s cities,” said Daniel Wiegand, CEO and co-founder of Lilium in a statement.

However, there is still one problem. In a previous study developed by Swiss bank UBS, more than half of the people who answered the survey said that they were unwilling to travel in a pilot-less plane, even if it would cost less. People need to feel secure, and it seems like pilot-less flying cabs is too much for them.

However, the venture still looks promising. In April, the company announced a world-first test flight of its electric, two-seater, vertical take-off and landing prototype. The company expects that the first functional crewed jet will take off in 2019, while the on-demand feature will go live in 2025.

Source: theverge.com