Uber Air has met with Australian-based partners to provide an update on local timelines amid the continuing global impact of COVID-19.

With the ongoing support of our partners, Melbourne remains Uber Air’s first planned international expansion market beyond the United States but there will not be any public demonstrations or test flights hosted in the Victorian capital this year. 

Just as we don’t build cars to run on the ridesharing app, the Uber Air network requires partners to lead the construction and certification of eVTOL vehicles for Uber Air operations.

There are eight partners working to create the types of quiet, electric vehicles that will make aerial ridesharing a success and we have been encouraged by the progress of their advance towards flight test programs prior to COVID-19. However, the restrictions on international travel, quarantines, guidance preventing mass public gatherings and a rolling wave of infections has impacted timelines.

The Uber Air team remains focused on piloting the core technology in the United States first, because it is where most of our vehicle partners are already developing their aircraft and where many plan to receive certification. 

All of the Uber vehicle partners are expected to progress initial vehicle certification in their home jurisdictions. Accordingly we anticipate public demonstrations will happen in North America first, but will not speculate when that might be as the ripple impact of COVID-19 has not yet been fully realised.

Uber Air is continuing to progress a safe, reliable, clean, quiet, and affordable air mobility service and will remain working with local partners to bring this vision to life.