The dream of arial cars is now reality – introducing GOVE, a car that flies and drives…
It seems the world’s automakers have become bored with ground-bound vehicles and are now pursuing the more radical flying cars option. The dream of personal aerial transportation is in their sights, with no traffic, potholes or flat tyres to be seen – just bird poop and wandering drones.
Chinese automotive giant, the GAC Group have revealed its take on the future of transportation. Dubbed the Gove, the name excruciatingly stands for ‘GAC’s on-the-go, vertical-flight, electric vehicle’.
After binging on the Transformers film series, GAC engineers came up with a design in which the vehicle and chassis can be separated so you can pay rego and insurance for the sky as well as the road. With the flick of a switch, this two-in-one can cruise down the highway, then suddenly fly over traffic or L platers at leisure.
For short trips, the Gove can land on a four-wheel landing pad. On this dock, the vehicle acts as a normal electric car, albeit a single-seater with weird gadgetry on the roof. The chassis can be operated remotely, meaning it can go charge itself while you’re busy in the air.
With a dual backup six rotor flight system, the Gove uses GAC’s Adigo-Pilot autonomous flying tech that allow its drivers/pilots to travel with speed and safety. Rather than selling it as a whole, GAC envisions the chassis being shared by many users as needed – as long as they play and fly nice.
As the industry evolves from a Jetsons episode to genuine possibilities, other companies like Hyundai, Xpeng, and Airbus are all looking to the sky. From Shenzhen’s UFO flying saucer to Xpeng’s Aeroht, models are popping up faster than reality shows on TV.
Whether it’s flying or driving, the Gove is part of a broader trend of car manufacturers ignoring gravity and experimenting with the skies – with or without a parachute.
By Bill Varetimidis
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