The mass production of "flying cars" to provide visitors with air taxi services at the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka is unlikely to be completed in time for the event's opening due to delays in safety certification, four operators involved in the project have said.
Japan had planned for the air taxi service to be among the expo's main attractions, with the two- to five-seater vehicles expected to provide access to the event's venue, set up on the artificial Yumeshima island in Osaka Bay.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura is seeking to use the expo as an opportunity to introduce the idea of flying cars being implemented into society, but with safety hurdles not yet cleared and with only around a year and a half left until it opens, a limited number of aircraft are expected to be operational in time.
In February, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced it had selected four groups to operate air taxi services to connect the exposition venue's three zones -- Yumeshima, central Osaka and nearby Kansai International Airport.
ANA Holdings Inc., the parent company of All Nippon Airways Co., is working with Joby Aviation Inc. to operate vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developed by the U.S. startup, while Japan-based SkyDrive Inc. also plans to provide such services with a vehicle it has developed.
Japan Airlines Co. and Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp. are looking to use aircraft developed by Volocopter GmbH from Germany and Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. from Britain, respectively.
But as flying cars are classified as aircraft under Japan's aviation law, operators must obtain an airworthiness certificate for each vehicle, in addition to a "type certificate" for each aircraft design, before going ahead with mass production.
Vertical Aerospace has said it plans to get a type certificate for its aircraft in 2026, with partner Marubeni admitting it has given up on commercial operations for the expo and is instead aiming to conduct demonstration flights with only pilots on board.
SkyDrive, which is also looking to get a type certificate in 2026, is considering commercially operating aircraft that have obtained airworthiness certificates. The number of vehicles that can be ready in time for the event will be disclosed as soon as possible, it said.
ANA and JAL, meanwhile, said they aim to launch commercial operations in 2024 to 2025, and that they are considering whether to provide their services at the expo.
"The process of demonstrating that these vehicles can carry passengers is a very serious matter. We are considering how to showcase a variety of aircraft," an official from the event's organizer said.
The World Expo 2025 will last from April 13 through Oct. 13 under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."
Related coverage:
ANA, JAL, 3 others picked to operate flying taxis for 2025 World Expo
Japan's 1st piloted flying taxi test held ahead of 2025 World Expo
