KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s flying car prototype is expected to be launched by the end of the year, says Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.
He said the prototype project was led by the private sector and sponsored by local companies.
“The government will not bear the losses if the project does not work according to plan,” he told Parliament.
Redzuan said Cyberjaya had been chosen as the testbed to develop the air mobility industry as discussed in the National Development Council in December, last year.
He said the industry had potential for expansion into other areas, listing new types of insurance, financial tech, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, among others.
Redzuan was responding to a question from Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) about the flying car project during Minister Question Time today.
“Vision 2020 was introduced when I was 15 years old.
“We imagined there would be flying cars by then.
“I would like to congratulate the minister for being the only one to keep the promise of Vision 2020.
“I want to know, is there a date when we can see the minister riding the flying car?” Khairy quipped, drawing laughter from the floor.
To a question on the same topic by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PH-Masjid Tanah), Redzuan who is Alor Gajah MP, invited her to hitch a ride with him back to Melaka. He said the flying car would be able to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Penang within an hour, compared to four hours on the road.
He also said the prototype vehicle would be able to accommodate two or three passengers.
On Oct 15, Redzuan said the flying car prototype was unlikely to be unveiled to the public this month, but the project, which was being carried out by the private sector, was still ongoing.
He had previously said the first prototype of the air mobility vehicle was expected to be launched as early as this month.
It was reported that the flying car was being built by a Malaysian company in Japan and that it was 85 per cent complete.