Technology

Pasona Conducts Flying Car Test on Awaji Island

The Yomiuri Shimbun
A flying car takes off in the island city of Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, on March 10.

Jiji Press

14:04 JST, March 11, 2024

AWAJI, Hyogo (Jiji Press) — Pasona Group Inc. on Sunday conducted a test of a flying car in the island city of Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, in cooperation with partners including the Awaji municipal government.

The vehicle, boarded by two inspectors, flew autonomously in the test.

The major Japanese staffing service group aims to use the flying car for tourism and as infrastructure during disasters.

The two-seater, made by Chinese autonomous aerial vehicle manufacturer EHang, can travel at speeds of up to 130 kph. In the test, the vehicle climbed up to 40 meters and flew for about four minutes at speeds of up to 25 kph.

Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito, who visited the test site to inspect the flight of the vehicle, showed high expectations for the potential of the new means of transport.

“Continuing tests of the flying car in Awaji for use in not only tourism but also in logistics, for medical purposes and as local infrastructure would serve as a model for all areas of Japan,” Saito said.