Flying car project sidelined, Gujarat now interested in air taxi

At the time, it was claimed that the Vibrant Gujarat Summit would lead to the establishment of a flying car manufacturing plant, with projected investments of up to ₹10,000 crore. However, five years on, the project is yet to materialise.

The Dutch company ‘PAL-V’ had signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to set up a flying car manufacturing facility. The announcement was made with much enthusiasm, reportedly citing Gujarat’s infrastructure, ports and other facilities as reasons for selecting the state as a hub.

Meanwhile, as the air taxi project moves forward, the flying car initiative appears to have been sidelined. The proposed plant, which was expected to be set up in Gujarat, is yet to find a location. Despite the fanfare around the projected investment, there has been no tangible progress even after half a decade.

The central aviation department has selected Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront as one of the sites for vertical take-off and landing services, while Mandvi in Kutch has also reportedly been chosen as a launch site. A central aviation team has already visited the state for assessments.

Back in 2020, when the agreement with PAL-V was signed, it was claimed that the company had already received orders for 110 flying cars from various European countries. The plan was that all of these vehicles would be manufactured in Gujarat.

What makes PAL-V’s flying car unique?

PAL-V’s vehicle is a three-wheeler that can transform from a car into a flying machine within three minutes. It can fly at a speed of up to 160 km/h and cover a distance of 500 km on a full tank. On the road, it can reach speeds of over 100 km/h. The estimated price of the vehicle is said to be between ₹2.5 and ₹3 crore.

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