This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
On Monday, NEC Corporation, a Japanese electronics manufacturer, unveiled a prototype flying car that successfully stayed in the air for almost a minute during a test in Chiba, east of Tokyo.
The prototype, about the size of an autorickshaw, is equipped with four horizontal propellers and reached a height of 3 meters (10 feet) during the test.
According to NEC officials, the flying car is designed to make deliveries on unmanned flights, a key component of Japan's plans to commercialize flying vehicles.
As part of its efforts, the Japanese government aims to start commercializing flying vehicles from around 2023, beginning with the transport of goods, and expanding to moving people closer to 2030.
