Japan sets sights on flying cars

Japan will launch a public-private council within the year to discuss the practical use of flying cars, a top government spokesman said at a press conference on Monday. 

While start-ups and other non-governmental groups are involved in developing technologies for the eventual production of such vehicles, little progress has been made for legislation on securing their safety.

The council will be convened before the end of the year and will design regulations and standards for a new generation of vehicles on one of the initiatives to help reduce congestion on Japan’s roads, says Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. 

The council will be comprised of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as well as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism from the public side.

Suga added that the government hopes flying cars will also play a role in mountainous areas and remote islands as well as in the event of natural disasters.

The Tokyo Olympics Games in 2020 will act as a showcase for the technology and Japan hopes to have flying cars operational by 2023.

*Featured image is of Google founder Larry Page's 'Kitty Hawk Flyer' - a single-person flying vehicle.