Drone taxi takes test flight over Seoul

A drone taxi flew over Yeouido, Seoul, for the first time Wednesday morning as part of South Korea’s road map to realize the commercialization of urban air mobility by 2025.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government co-hosted an event with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to demonstrate the drone taxi as part of future mobility that could ease traffic congestion.

For the demonstration, one two-seater drone aircraft -- with no one on board -- was used. The aircraft produced by Chinese drone maker EHang flew 1.8 kilometers around Yeouido Hangang Park, Seogang Bridge, Bamseom, and Mapo Bridge at 50 meters above sea level for about seven minutes.

At the event, Korean firms Hyundai Motor and Hanwha Systems also exhibited their drone aircraft models being developed.

Hanwha Systems unveiled a mock-up of its air vehicle, Butterfly, that was one-third its intended actual size. The aircraft is under joint development with US manufacturer Overair. Butterfly is an electric vertical takeoff and landing machine, or eVTOL, which is equipped with eco-friendly and low-noise technology.

Hyundai Motor also exhibited an aircraft model being developed that was first introduced at the 2020 CES event earlier this year. It is being made in cooperation with US transport company Uber Technologies. Hyundai plans to commercialize the eight-seater drone taxi aircraft by 2028.