Flying cars could be in US skies in two YEARS: Aerospace company plans to launch $350,000 two-seat car
The Miami aerospace company said its flying car will take to the skies in two years, but that could cost you up to $350,000.
This was announced by the CEO of Doroni Aerospace Doron Merdinger. TMZ that his firm is testing a two-seater that looks like a hovering drone, with deliveries expected no later than 2025.
Merdinger likened the Doroni H1 to a flying “roadster” designed for short trips, lifting people into the air several hundred feet at speeds up to 140 miles per hour.
The company recently completed the first flight of its prototype without tethering, but a successful attempt means a full-scale flying model will be ready in the next few months.
The H1 must be certified as a light sport aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration, which means you only need a driver’s license and 20 hours of training.
Doroni H1 should be delivered to consumers no later than early 2025. A two-seater flying car will cost up to $350,000.
We expect to start selling and leasing 22 units during the third year and 722 units by the fifth year. We expect the Doroni H1 eVTOL to generate revenue starting with first responders, law enforcement, the military, a pre-order letter of intent from a security company, and recreational users,” the company said in a statement.
“From there, we plan to position ourselves so that we can be acquired by global defense contractors, automakers like General Motors, or ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft.”
The flying car has two sets of wings with large air vents, a 500-pound payload, and wheels that the company says make it look like a hovering drone.
Doroni H1 has three axis movements – pitch, roll and yaw.
The H1 is expected to be able to travel 60 miles and can be charged in a garage.
Merdinger said the battery charges from 20 percent to 80 percent in about 20 minutes.
“We designed, built, tested and successfully lifted a full-scale 643-pound X8 eVTOL prototype,” the company explained.
Doroni had previously estimated a starting retail price of $195,000, but Merdinger told TMZ that figure has increased due to rising material costs.
The company has raised over $2.7 million from over 1,550 investors on the crowdfunding platform. startengine.com.
The company recently completed the first flight of its prototype without tethering, but a successful attempt means a full-scale flying model will be ready in the next few months.
The H1 must be certified as a light sport aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration, which means you only need a driver’s license and 20 hours of training.
The company maximized its first platform fee and received more than 230 pre-order requests for aircraft to go to market.
While the US-based company is developing a personal car for the countryside, the Chinese firm XPeng is building a model to transport tourists around the cities.
The company claims it will be able to reach speeds of up to 80 mph in just a few years.
The all-electric XPeng X2 is expected to be at an altitude of approximately 300 feet – about the height of Big Ben.
It is expected to cost the same as a luxury car like a Bentley or Rolls Royce and hit the market by 2025.
Doroni had previously estimated a starting retail price of $195,000, but Merdinger told TMZ that figure has increased due to rising material costs.
While an American company is developing a personal car for the countryside, the Chinese firm XPeng is creating a model for transporting tourists around cities.
Brian Gu, president and vice chairman, said the end goal was for wealthy people to use it as their daily commute.
But, with several regulatory hurdles yet to be overcome, he said the vehicle would likely be kept on “the outskirts of cities or scenic streets” first.
Owners are expected to only need a driver’s license, as the initial flight will likely have to be done autonomously.