NEOM and Volocopter come together to pioneer the world’s first public vertical mobility system including air taxis and vertical logistics services.
NEOM, the smart and sustainable regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia and Volocopter, the urban air mobility company, have established a joint venture (JV) to design, implement, and operate the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in NEOM.
Public eVTOL system
Air taxi and vertical logistics services will be fully integrated with the zero-emission public transit system in NEOM. The JV will be the sole operator of initial public transit routes across NEOM, while enabling an open eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) ecosystem for vertical mobility services including logistics, emergency response, and tourism. NEOM has placed an order of 15 Volocopter aircraft to commence flight operations within the next 2-3 years. The JV will offer vertical mobility services as an integral part of NEOM’s multi-modal and zero-emissions public mobility system, providing seamless connectivity for passengers and goods.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, Chief Executive Officer at NEOM, said, “In designing cities and urban infrastructure for the 21st century, mobility is at the centre of the equation. Through this joint venture with Volocopter, we are demonstrating to the world that NEOM is the ideal region to implement urban air mobility rapidly and create a fully integrated vertical mobility ecosystem. NEOM is on a mission to become a global living lab for future mobility, and we are very excited to see what the future holds as we grow.”
Volocopter and NEOM have agreed an initial order of 10 VoloCity passenger and 5 VoloDrone logistics aircraft and the operation will scale-up its activities from the beginning of 2022 to foster urban air mobility in the region and begin the development of a public vertical mobility ecosystem. The partnership delivers on NEOM’s mission to be a global living lab for future mobility and a centre of excellence for eVTOL innovation and industry.
Footage of a Volocopter being trialed as part of Dubai’s Air Taxi program can be viewed here.
Limiting infrastructure requirements
eVTOLs are a key part of NEOM’s mobility mission, enabling transportation of people and goods without extensive surface infrastructure. Public vertical mobility systems will connect NEOM’s core urban development THE LINE, the industrial city OXAGON and other regional destinations, the nature of the eVTOL system will mean that extensive road construction will not be required and the area’s natural environment will be protected.
