CES 2024: Hyundai flying car on sale by 2028

The Hyundai S-A2 flying vehicle concept was revealed overnight at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

While the term ‘flying car’ might be a stretch for this particular vehicle, Hyundai continues to invest heavily in the technology it believes will revolutionise personal transport.

An evolution of the Hyundai S-A1 concept that made its debut at the 2020 CES, the S-A2 is being spruiked as a more efficient and quicker way to travel across gridlocked urban areas compared to ground vehicles.

The company says it expects the production version of the S-A2 to meet commercial aviation safety standards while being affordable to manufacture by the time it enters the market in 2028.

Hyundai’s flying vehicle division Supernal says the five-seater S-A2 will be cost-effective by “leveraging Hyundai’s mass production capability”.

The SA-2 is powered by eight “all-tilting” rotors driven by electric motors. Hyundai says it’s based on a “distributed electric propulsion architecture” and is VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capable.

Top speed is a claimed 193km/h (120mph), while Hyundai’s airborne taxi has a claimed cruising altitude of 1500ft (457m) “to meet typical city operation needs of 25-to-40-mile trips, initially” (40-64km).

The S-A2 concept is also designed to be significantly quieter than a conventional helicopter too. Hyundai reckons it is functions as quietly as a dishwasher, producing 65dB during vertical take-off and landing phases and as little as 45dB when cruising.

Helicopters generally average around 106dB during flight, requiring noise-cancelling headphones for occupants.

Supernal chief technology officer Ben Diachun said the S-A2 was not just a flight of fancy, but a preview of a commercially viable vehicle.

“Supernal’s product concept vehicle is the result of the creativity and hard work of our world-class team. S-A2 is designed to take full advantage of emerging electric powertrain advancements that will define the next generation of aviation,” he said.

“From here, we will develop this concept into a revolutionary commercial product.”

Supernal CEO and Hyundai Motor Group president Jaiwon Shin reiterated the company’s commitment to flying cars, citing an ambition “to create the right product and the right market at the right time”.

“The unveiling of S-A2 demonstrates our unwavering commitment to deliver on that mission with a safe, efficient vehicle design that provides a clear path to market entry,” he said.

“By leveraging our talented 600-person team, the vast technical and business capabilities of Hyundai Motor Group and trusted aviation suppliers around the world, Supernal is ready to deliver a new era of flight.”

Supernal says it’s working on expanding the scope of S-A2 concept with modular interior fit-outs and battery upgrades.

It will also push for a scalable clean-energy ecosystem based around ‘vertiport’ hubs that are designed to integrate with existing transportation infrastructure.

Flying cars might be derided in some quarters, but the technology is gaining momentum, as seen with the Pegasus E that’s been spruiked to police forces in Australia, along with the XPeng X2 available in Europe.

Toyota is also working on a flying car and South Australian-based Alauda Aeronautics has developed a racing series based around its airborne Airspeeder.