Volkswagen China’s had launched electrical Vertical Take-off and Landing air vehicle eVTOL prototype the V.MO in July 2022. Project Manager & Product Owner Mr Zhou Jin had said “We nicknamed this initial 001 prototype the Flying Tiger due to its black and gold livery, which we painted to commemorate its launch in the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese, there is a famous saying, rú hǔ tiān yì, which means, ‘like a tiger that has grown wings’, you are resolved to take on a task or challenge with redoubled effort. We like to think that we have a ‘Flying Tiger’ attitude towards vertical mobility!”The V.MO’s luxury x-wing configuration has an 11.2-meter-long, 10.6-meter-wide setup with 8 rotors fixed upwards for vertical lift and 2 rear forward propulsion propellers for horizontal flight, and it is already capable of much more than just hovering above the company parking lot. In its final stage, Volkeswagen aim for it to carry 4 people plus luggage into the air, travelling up to 200km/h with maximum flight duration of 60 minutes on a single charge. This allows Volkeswagen to not only provide a concept which can be used for the urban commute or for leisure, but also intercity transportation and airport shuttle services. In the first phase of its commercial use, V.MO is likely to be pitched as a premium product for high-net worth individuals, for example for VIP air shuttle services.Sitting at the heart of the Flying Tiger is Volkswagen’s highly efficient electric motor. Silent, reliable and producing zero exhausts gases, these motors will power the future of urban mobility. Electric motors rely on the unique properties of steel to function. Electrical steel is specially manufactured for its magnetic properties and is fundamental to the operation of an electric motor’s stators and rotors. Able to withstand the heat and mechanical pressures generated by the high RPM seen in an electric motor, electrical steel helps minimise core energy losses which is vital in boosting the Flying Tiger’s range.Vertical mobility is likely to be a major part of the future of urban and intercity transportation in China’s megacities, where eVTOL air vehicles will be able to transport passengers faster, more efficiently, and with greater flexibility than existing ground-based solutions over short and medium distances..The eVTOL industry is booming and is attracting players from traditional aviation, auto as well as start-ups. Worldwide there are more than 200 eVTOLs in development, with less than 10 undergoing certification. In China, the authorities have signaled a willingness to open low-altitude airspace as a possible solution to traffic congestion, which means there is a real buzz within the local market.
Volkswagen China’s had launched electrical Vertical Take-off and Landing air vehicle eVTOL prototype the V.MO in July 2022. Project Manager & Product Owner Mr Zhou Jin had said “We nicknamed this initial 001 prototype the Flying Tiger due to its black and gold livery, which we painted to commemorate its launch in the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese, there is a famous saying, rú hǔ tiān yì, which means, ‘like a tiger that has grown wings’, you are resolved to take on a task or challenge with redoubled effort. We like to think that we have a ‘Flying Tiger’ attitude towards vertical mobility!”The V.MO’s luxury x-wing configuration has an 11.2-meter-long, 10.6-meter-wide setup with 8 rotors fixed upwards for vertical lift and 2 rear forward propulsion propellers for horizontal flight, and it is already capable of much more than just hovering above the company parking lot. In its final stage, Volkeswagen aim for it to carry 4 people plus luggage into the air, travelling up to 200km/h with maximum flight duration of 60 minutes on a single charge. This allows Volkeswagen to not only provide a concept which can be used for the urban commute or for leisure, but also intercity transportation and airport shuttle services. In the first phase of its commercial use, V.MO is likely to be pitched as a premium product for high-net worth individuals, for example for VIP air shuttle services.Sitting at the heart of the Flying Tiger is Volkswagen’s highly efficient electric motor. Silent, reliable and producing zero exhausts gases, these motors will power the future of urban mobility. Electric motors rely on the unique properties of steel to function. Electrical steel is specially manufactured for its magnetic properties and is fundamental to the operation of an electric motor’s stators and rotors. Able to withstand the heat and mechanical pressures generated by the high RPM seen in an electric motor, electrical steel helps minimise core energy losses which is vital in boosting the Flying Tiger’s range.Vertical mobility is likely to be a major part of the future of urban and intercity transportation in China’s megacities, where eVTOL air vehicles will be able to transport passengers faster, more efficiently, and with greater flexibility than existing ground-based solutions over short and medium distances..The eVTOL industry is booming and is attracting players from traditional aviation, auto as well as start-ups. Worldwide there are more than 200 eVTOLs in development, with less than 10 undergoing certification. In China, the authorities have signaled a willingness to open low-altitude airspace as a possible solution to traffic congestion, which means there is a real buzz within the local market.
