[Auto] Uber explores the possibility of divesting its flying taxi division

[FNX Magokiler]

According to reports, the shared transport company is in a reorganization process to improve its profitability. This implies that it must necessarily be detached from the divisions that only imply losses.

Everything indicates that Uber's ambitious project to launch an urban flying taxi service is coming to an end, as the shared transport company has decided to sell its “Uber Elevate” division to the emerging company Joby Aviation. The drastic decision, indicates the site The Verge, is part of a strict restructuring carried out by the CEO of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, to improve the profitability of the company. This would necessarily imply, says the report, parting with the areas that lose money. In fact, it is not ruled out that the “shock wave” will also affect the autonomous vehicle division. Asked about it, an Uber spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

 

 

 

In 2016, the shared transport company announced for the first time its intention to advance in the development of a network of electric flying taxis with vertical take-off, which would make it possible to face current mobility problems by considerably shortening travel times in urban areas. The problem, experts indicate, that an idea of this magnitude means developing everything from scratch, starting with creating the technology that gives life to electric flying vehicles, not to mention that it should also be invested in the construction of a vast network of "ports aerial "rooftop or ground level" and regulatory approval from a number of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, The Verge adds, it is not surprising that Joby Aviation is the one who buys the flying taxi division, since it has been working with Uber on that project for years. The Northern California-based aerospace company has been working on the concept of electric aircraft for more than a decade and was the first to commit to Uber's aggressive schedule to launch an air taxi service by 2023. Joby was founded in 2009 by inventor JoeBen Bevirt and operated with a low profile until 2018, when Joby announced that it had raised a staggering $ 100 million from a variety of investors, including the venture capital arms of Intel and Toyota, among others, in addition to JetBlue. The capital helped finance the development of the company's prototype air taxi, which has been conducting test flights at the private Joby Airfield in Northern California.