Telecommunications company SK Telecom has teamed up with Joby Aviation to introduce emissions-free aerial ride-sharing services to cities and communities across South Korea.
SK says Joby's piloted aircraft comes with a maximum range of 150 miles, a top speed of 200 mph and a low noise profile that will allow it to access built-up areas.
As part of the deal, the partners intend to utilise SK's T Map mobility platform and the UT ride-hailing service to provide multi-modal journeys that integrate both ground and air travel.
UT is a joint venture that brings together SK's T Map platform and Uber's ride-sharing technology.
SK CEO Ryu Young-sang says: “By joining forces with Joby, a global leader in this field, we expect to accelerate our journey towards the era of urban air mobility and lead the way on introducing this exciting new technology.
“Collaborating with leading global companies is essential to securing leadership in future industries, which we are confident will be driven by the growth of UAM, autonomous driving, and robots.”
Joby founder JoeBen Bevirt says: “With more than 42 million people living in urban areas, South Korea offers a remarkable opportunity for Joby to make air travel a part of daily life, helping people to save time while reducing their carbon footprint.”
Passengers will be able to access Joby's aerial ride-sharing service via the Joby or Uber app.
