It is not a 'flying car', clarifies firm

Since Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Md Yusof announced that a local firm is working on Malaysia's first 'flying car', it had become the subject of ridicule.

Opposition politicians had also hitched a ride on the issue to run down the Pakatan Harapan administration.

However, Aerodyne Group business development and consulting senior director Imtyaz Mohd Azzat clarified that his firm is not developing an airborne car.

He said the vehicle, known as Vector, was designed to be a point-to-point air transportation system.

Aerodyne displayed a model of the vehicle at this year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) exhibition.

Imtyaz explained that Vector was a drone-concept vehicle designed for carrying passengers, cargo delivery and surveillance purposes.

“Vector is powered by four motors and a lithium-ion battery that enables the vehicle to fly.

"This vehicle can also carry a load of approximately of 150-200kg, and fly about 50m above ground level at 60km/h for between 30 to 90 minutes of flying time,” he told Bernama.

Asked when the vehicle was expected to take flight, he said the prototype was slated to be ready to fly as early as June this year.

He also said that their four-year-old company, with experience in drone technology, had yet to dictate the price of Vector should the vehicle be ready to enter the market soon.

On government support, Imtyaz said he was grateful that the Entrepreneur Development Ministry had been supportive by helping the company to develop an ecosystem to make the idea work.

“Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was also pleased with this idea when he visited the booth,” he added.

The 15th edition of Lima saw the participation of 406 defence-related companies, 200 of which are international corporations, from 32 countries.

It is co-organised by EN Projects (M) Sdn Bhd, the Defence Ministry and the Transportation Ministry, with the theme "Defence and commercial connecting intelligence." -Mkini