Thanks to Volocopter, we might soon get flying taxis.

Mercedes-Benz is, due to the founder of the brand, Karl Benz is the company that made the world's first car. This was created in 1886 and, as a result, the year became the name of Mercedes' laboratory for innovative projects. It is thanks to them that Mercedes, 133 years after conquering the road, has now conquered the sky. On Saturday the first helicopter made by Volocopter was successfully launched in Stuttgart, home town of Mercedes-Benz in the course of the two-day event "Vision Smart City".

Although it is a young and independent, German company (established in 2012), Volocopter is nevertheless an important name for Mercedes-Benz. In fact, in 2017, Mercedes ' parent company Daimler AG invested EUR 25 million in it to start the production of a 18-propeler helicopter, built above the Volocopter 2X cabin itself, whose maiden flight was witnessed this weekend by visitors to the abovementioned event. This vehicle, which may otherwise also fly autonomously, was first introduced as early as 2017.

According to the CEO of the Daimler Group, Ola Küllenius, this is for Mercedes-Benz an important move from several respects. It comes from one of the cornerstones of the smart cities of the future, but it also promotes in a way the e-mobility project, which Mercedes has been paying more and more attention to lately. By 2022, the whole model pallet is to be electrified and by 2030 electric cars were to be the majority of the total sales of new cars.

Even though it was a test flight, the helicopter successfully, and the date, when as a flying taxi by the transport of the passengers, after the city came into regular use, is not yet known, but expected to happen soon. Volocopter received new funding from the Chinese motor company Geely of EUR 55 million a few days ago, which will undoubtedly contribute greatly to the completion of the project. This should take place within the next three years.

Sept. 16, 2019 Driving photo: Daimler AG

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