What was once a dream on TV shows like The Jetsons is quickly becoming a reality. With over 200 companies working toward making flying cars a mainstream part of our future, the skies are about to get a lot more crowded. In today’s episode of Inside Automotive, we sit down with Doron Merdinger, CEO and Founder of Doroni Aerospace, and Tim Jackson, former CEO of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association and author of Dude, Where’s My Flying Car?, to discuss the promising developments in this groundbreaking industry. The duo shares insights into how vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles are set to revolutionize personal mobility.
As the world moves towards urban air mobility (UAM), companies like Doroni Aerospace are at the forefront of developing flying vehicles that could change how we travel. Merdinger shares the journey of Doroni Aerospace, which started as a garage project in 2016. The company has since created a prototype that’s beginning to gain recognition in the aerospace sector. The company’s primary focus is making personal aviation vehicles (PAVs) that allow people to land them in their driveways and park them in garages.
According to Jackson, over 200 startup companies are working to bring flying cars to the market. He compares the current state of flying car startups to the early days of the automobile industry when over 2,000 automakers were vying to shape the future of transportation. As Jackson points out, while urban air mobility and air taxis are grabbing headlines, the true game-changer will be personal aviation vehicles (PAVs)—flying cars that individuals can park in their garages and take to their favorite destinations.
As for the timeline, Merdinger predicts that flying cars like Doroni’s could begin to take flight by the end of 2026 or early 2027, with vehicles available for pre-order. Experts estimate the cost of this advanced mode of transportation at around $400,000, but this amount may vary.
With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently signing new regulations for eVTOLs, Merdinger is optimistic about the future, noting that the regulatory framework is taking shape. Jackson believes that flying taxis and personal aviation vehicles will play a significant role in transportation. He envisions that personal aviation vehicles could drive to a destination and then take off into the air for the final leg of the journey.
These developments could revolutionize personal and urban mobility in ways we’ve only dreamed of.
"I think our highways can only get so wide; we can't put more lanes in many places, but we keep putting more people and more cars on those roads. At some point in time, mobility has become three-dimensional... The sky is the next frontier for personal mobility." – Tim Jackson
