Audi to begin flying car tests in German city

Audi and its aviation partner Airbus has announced it has signed a letter of intent with the German city of Ingolstadt to begin testing its prototype air taxis in and around the Bavarian city.

In a statement released last night, Audi said the tests would help develop a mode of transport that would overcome the city's congested roads.

"Flying taxis aren't a vision any longer, they can take us off into a new dimension of mobility," agreed Germany's transport minister, Andreas Scheuer following the announcement of the Ingolstadt tests.

It was at this year's Geneva motor show that Audi announced it had teamed up with both Italdesign and Airbus to develop flying cars.

At the Swiss show, Audi showed off its Pop.Up Next concept that combined a self-driving car that would dock with a passenger drone to beat congestion.

The pure-electric concept was back then described as a "vision that could permanently change our urban life in the future".

Created to work as an on-demand robo-taxi, the vertical take-off and landing vehicle (VTOL) will have plenty of competition when it eventually hits the market.

Mercedes-Benz has already invested in a German passenger drone company, while Toyota has confirmed it will have an 'airborne personal mobility device' ready for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Finally, even Chinese car-making giant Geely is getting in on the flying car act, purchasing US-based Terrafugio back in 2017. It is confident it will beat all its rivals to market with its first flying car set to go on sale in 2019.