Embraer floats new way to move around town: An electric taxi cab, like Uber for the skies

If and when the skies turn into something similar to "The Jetsons," Embraer's facilities in Melbourne could be a key player.

In fact, it already is to some extent.

On Tuesday, Embraer X, an Embraer offshoot based at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport, unveiled concept images of its first electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing, or eVTOL aircraft.

The unveiling took place at Uber's Elevate 2018 in Los Angeles, a conference where a number of aviation manufacturers, entrepreneurs and others presented cutting-edge ideas for the future of urban air travel.

Think Uber taxi-cabs for the skies.

Embraer X is involved in numerous projects, including the development of eVTOL concepts, with Uber and other companies to explore opportunities within the Uber Elevate ecosystem.

While much of the concept work for the future aircraft took place in Melbourne, it's a little too early to say that if Embraer's eVTOL were to come to fruition it would be built on the Space Coast.

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Embraer, based in Brazil, is a well-known manufacturer of jets of all sizes. The company assembles its Phenom and Legacy business jets at Orlando Melbourne International. Embraer also has an engineering and design facility at the airport, as well as a customer center.

“We have excelled in our near-50-year journey by introducing innovations into the aviation industry and delivering true value to customers,” Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, Embraer's president and CEO said in a statement. “We are relentless in our quest for constant growth and through Embraer X we will drive disruptive innovation and accelerate the creation of new businesses with the potential for exponential growth. Urban mobility is ripe for transformation and we are committed to having a major role in this key market.”
 
Antonio Campello, president and CEO of Embraer X, added: We are developing solutions to bring on-demand air transportation to urban areas to improve quality of life for millions of people.

"This is one example of how Embraer X is committed to exploring a range of disruptive products and services that could revolutionize the business of air transportation.”

Price is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Price at 321-242-3658

or wprice@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @Fla2dayBiz

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