Neom, the $500 billion development being built in northwest Saudi Arabia, has established a joint venture with Volocopter to design, implement and operate the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system.
Air taxi and vertical logistics services will be fully integrated with the overall multi-modal and zero-emission public transit system in Neom under the deal, a statement said.
It added that the JV will be the sole operator of initial public transit routes across Neom, while enabling an open eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) ecosystem for vertical mobility services including logistics, emergency response, and tourism.
Neom said it has placed a confirmed order of 15 Volocopter aircraft to commence initial flight operations within the next 2-3 years.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO at Neom, said: “In designing cities and urban infrastructure for the 21st century, mobility is at the centre of the equation. Through this joint venture with Volocopter, we are demonstrating to the world that Neom is the ideal region to implement urban air mobility rapidly and create a fully integrated vertical mobility ecosystem.”
Florian Lennert, head of mobility at Neom, said: “We are incredibly excited and proud to partner with Volocopter to make vertical mobility a reality here at Neom… Volocopter’s expertise, experience, and vision will allow us to lead the design and implementation of eVTOL operations regionally and globally.”
Volocopter and Neom have agreed an initial order of 10 VoloCity passenger and five VoloDrone logistics aircraft to support early activation of flight operations.
The JV will scale-up its activities from the beginning of 2022 to incubate urban air mobility in the region and seed a vertical mobility ecosystem.
Christian Bauer, chief commercial officer at Volocopter, said: “The partnership with Neom and the new JV we are creating together is going to be an exciting journey. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be an essential part of designing and operating a completely new UAM ecosystem from the ground up without the constraint of legacy infrastructure or regulation.”
eVTOLs are an essential part of NEOM’s mobility mission, enabling transportation of people and goods without extensive surface infrastructure.
Vertical mobility services will connect Neom’s core urban development The Line, reimagined industrial city Oxagon and other regional destinations, avoiding intrusive road construction and thus protecting its unique natural environment, the statement added.
Neom aims to implement the first truly sustainable and seamlessly connected mobility system powered by 100 percent renewable energy, deploying zero-emission vehicles across all urban and regional mobility modes.
Working with a range of innovation partners, Neom has initiated shared electric mobility services, autonomous shuttles, electric boats, personal eVTOLs, delivery drones, and solar-powered mobility hubs.
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