New Future chief executive Maki Kaplinsky told CNET the Aska will be capable of carrying three passengers, who will just need to find an open area about the size of a few parking spaces when they’re ready to transition from driving to flying mode.
After the car extends its wings, it’ll take off vertically, and its autonomous system will ferry the passengers a distance of up to 150 miles. After that, it’ll land so they can resume driving to their destination.
New Future startup expects to begin test-flying the craft by the first quarter of 2020, with a goal of starting sales in 2025. The initial cost will be around $200,000, but it hopes to eventually bring that down to $50,000.
“We are not building something for rich people,” company chairman Guy Kaplinsky told CNET. “We are building something that everyone will be able to afford.”
