Chinese auto company Geely is ramping up its push to develop a flying car by beginning a drive to recruit more technicians to work for its subsidiary in charge of the group’s airborne vehicles projects, Caixin Global reports.
Geely Terrafugia is hiring several more technicians with experience in telecommunications and aircraft engineering, according to job ads seen by Caixin Global this week.
Geely acquired US flying-car start-up Terrafugia last year for an undisclosed sum, and is expected to launch its first flying-car prototype, the TF-1, in 2019. A more sophisticated vehicle capable of vertical take-offs and landings should be completed by 2023, Geely’s CEO, Li Shufu, has said.
Other Chinese companies are also working on similar flying vehicle projects, with the aim of finding new ways to escape China’s notoriously congested roads. Ehang Intelligence is developing a passenger-carrying drone, while Tencent has invested in German “air taxi” company Lilium.