Urban air mobility

: how automotive companies view the market

Abstract

In the 21st century, urban areas are characterized by congested roads and bad air quality due to CO2 emissions. The current transport infrastructure is reaching its limits and experts believe that urban air mobility could improve traffic and preserve the environment. Electric air taxis, which can carry two to five people and operate nearly emission free, can be a means for that. Besides small aviation startups, some automotive companies are also interested in entering the market.This dissertation revealed that urban air mobility firms and automotive companies have an interest in collaborating with one another to exploit synergies and shape the future of mobility. A few sporadic collaborations already exist, which will probably increase in the future, according to the conducted expert interviews. In particular, there will be an opportunity in the joint development of sales / branding strategies or digital mobility platforms. Furthermore, a scenario analysis showed that the most likely scenario of urban air mobility in 5 – 10 years will be characterized by a moderate adoption of the new passenger transport service. Many regulatory hurdles and a low public acceptance will complicate the market entry. However, experts were convinced that electric air taxis will eventually enter the market and revolutionize urban mobility, reduce congestion and preserve the environment.

Date of Award	5 Feb 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter V. Rajsingh (Supervisor) & André de Almeida Pinho (Co-Supervisor)