Redzuan: China-made 'flying car' belongs to firm looking to set up shop in Malaysia

Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Mohd Yusof today clarified that the China-made "flying car" that will be tested this Thursday is not Malaysia's first air mobility vehicle but the product of a Chinese firm that is looking to set up shop in Malaysia.

He said a separate wholly-Malaysian initiative is still being developed in Japan, but it is behind schedule.

He added these are two of four initiatives related to developing the air mobility industry in Malaysia thus far.

"The ones that were or are currently being processed to be shipped out of Japan was a 100 percent Malaysian initiative, but they are behind schedule.

"They are not the only one who has come to see the government (to ask) 'can you help us to build the industry'.

"(There is) one from the UK, one Malaysian but they have to manufacture in Japan, one is a collaboration between a Malaysian company and China... and the fourth is another one that was initiated by the association of the drone industry," Redzuan said to reporters in Parliament today.

However, he said the second flying car he had previously mentioned which would be from Europe is completely separate technology.

"Wait until 2022 when you see it (the second flying car) being launched," he said.

Redzuan also stressed that Putrajaya is not spending a single sen on these initiatives and the government is only facilitating entrepreneurs interested in such innovation and trying to create an ecosystem for them to thrive.

"There are a lot of sceptics, criticism and ridicule. We don't mind that but the bottom line is, I have a long-term plan to make sure air mobility becomes relevant in this industry," he said.

It was earlier reported that the flying vehicle which Redzuan would be testing this Thursday would be the China-made EHang 216, which has been described as a passenger drone.

Redzuan had previously said the first Malaysian flying car would be developed by local company Aerodyne Group and it will be manufactured in Japan. - Mkini