Self-driving flying taxis to hit the skies of Dubai

Dubai is planning to introduce self-driving flying taxis later this year.

A test of the one-man electric vehicle was recently successfully conducted, and the country plans to make a quarter of its means of transport are self-driving by 2030.

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The EHang 184 can travel on a programmed course at 100 kilometres an hour (60 mph) at an altitude of 300 metres (1,000 feet), according to an authority statement.

A passenger simply needs to select a destination for the autonomous taxi to take off, fly the route and touch down in the chosen spot monitored by a ground control centre, it said.

The vehicle, made by Chinese drone manufacturer EHang, can recharge in two hours and make trips of up to 30 minutes.