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Kia got here to CES 2024 with the aim of constructing a splash. Slightly than simply rolling out a brand new electrical automobile or some AI software program buzzwords, 5 years after it was final at CES, Kia got here to this yr’s present and launched its Platform Past Automobiles lineup. At this time, the corporate is following that up with the announcement that it has signed an MoU with Uber to supply its drivers PBVs tailor-made to their work. Slightly loftier than that, yesterday, Hyundai Motor Group cousin Supernal introduced an electrical vertical takeoff and touchdown (eVTOL) plane, the S-A2.

Kia + Uber

The Kia plus Uber partnership is doubtlessly an enormous one. Having electrical automobiles customized for Uber drivers may result in better-optimized automobiles for taxi/”ridesharing” use. “With the aim of enhancing electrical automobile choices obtainable on Uber’s mobility platform and supporting the worldwide journey hailing chief in attaining its 2040 zero-emission aim, the partnership will search to supply Kia PBVs optimized for drivers and fleets as a part of Kia’s ‘Platform Past Car’ technique on this subject of the mobility market,” Kia writes.

Naturally, we’re simply on the “we are going to customise automobiles for you” stage, so there’s nothing to see and there aren’t any particulars to be examined. The automobile within the pic above is simply one of many instance PBVs Kia rolled out for CES. “The intentions of the collaboration are for Kia to establish optimum specs for PBV fashions, with the attainable additional integration of know-how and companies to learn drivers and journey hailing customers alike,” Kia writes. “The partnership’s objectives additionally lengthen to the creation of proofs of idea, prototypes, and the manufacturing of PBVs tailor-made to the wants of drivers that use the Uber platform.”

“PBVs will play a key position within the transformation of mobility. This collaboration will improve Kia’s PBV growth, with optimized automobiles for drivers’ and customers’ wants,” mentioned Sangdae Kim, Head of PBV Division, Kia. “This may give attention to superior software program and companies, with the combination of interactive In-Car Infotainment and superior security know-how.”

There’s no clear indication of when the Kia automobile can be prepared and put into use.

Supernal eVTOL Jet

As for the sky-high aspirations of Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s Superior Air Mobility (AAM) firm, the S-A2 idea is a 5-person plane. It’s additionally the second model of a plane idea first unveiled at CES 4 years in the past (S-A1). Is it prepared for passengers? No, however perhaps in the future. The goal from Supernal is 2028.

“From the start, Supernal has been on a mission to create the correct product and the correct market on the proper time,” mentioned Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “The disclosing of S-A2 demonstrates our unwavering dedication to ship on that mission with a protected, environment friendly automobile design that gives a transparent path to market entry. By leveraging our gifted 600-person workforce, the huge technical and enterprise capabilities of Hyundai Motor Group and trusted aviation suppliers around the globe, Supernal is able to ship a brand new period of flight.”

As conceptualized, listed below are some particulars for the longer term pal:

• 120 mph at 15,000 ft altitude.
• “65 dB in vertical take-off and touchdown phases and 45 dB whereas cruising horizontally” (as quiet as a dishwasher)
• 8 all-tilting rotors

“The automobile is designed with a precedence on security and a give attention to sustainability and passenger consolation. Engineered to realize the worldwide industrial aviation normal of security, it has a sturdy airframe construction together with redundant parts in vital methods corresponding to powertrain, flight controls and avionics. The all-tilting rotor configuration will energy the automobile by means of each the vertical-lift and horizontal-cruise phases of flight with distinctive effectivity. To keep up superior high quality whereas additionally being cost-effective, the automobile can be manufactured leveraging Hyundai’s mass manufacturing functionality.”

That each one sounds convincing, doesn’t it?

“As Supernal continues to optimize its automobile for certification, mass manufacturing and expanded use circumstances, the Firm can also be centered on inside modularity and battery upgradability. This contains the power to exchange the battery module as know-how advances.”

It’s onerous to think about the S-A2 reaching a cost-competitive degree. However we will see. It actually appears cool.