The year is 2017, and humanity is long overdue for the jetpacks, flying cars, and other technological wonders we were promised back during the 20th century.
That said, flying cars are in the works, with companies like Airbus, Terrafugia, Zee.Aero, and others quietly attempting to develop personal vehicles that can navigate all three spatial dimensions, rather than just two.
But Ford Motor Company is, so far, opting not to pursue such technology. The automaker’s Executive Chairman, Bill Ford, was reportedly asked at this month’s SXSW whether the company had any plans to develop a flying passenger vehicle. The answer is no… For the time being, at least, although Mr. Ford doesn’t find the prospect so outlandish.
“We’re not [working on flying cars], but it’s not so crazy,” said Ford’s Executive Chairman. “Although I would say they had better be autonomous; most people can’t drive two dimensions, let alone three.
“There are entrepreneurs who are working on flying vehicles. I haven’t been in one, but seen a test of one, and they are technically going to be very possible.”
Despite Ford’s apprehension toward developing a car capable of traveling above the ground, the automaker remains firmly committed to furthering self-driving-car technology, as well as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. Nowhere are Ford’s intentions with those technologies more clearly displayed than in the company’s hypothetical “City of Tomorrow” concept, which the automaker has presented at numerous forums.
We reckon a flying car wouldn’t look out of place in the least in the City of Tomorrow.
(Source: Business Insider)
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