Airbus has revealed it plans to test self-piloted flying cars by the end of 2017, as a way of avoiding gridlock on city roads.
Speaking to a technology conference in Germany, CEO Tom Enders outlined plans that could be a big step towards easing pollution and congestion.
Last year, the aerospace giant formed a division named Urban Air Mobility to explore concepts including a helicopter-like vehicle which would be able to carry multiple riders.
The tests, tentatively scheduled for before the end of the year, would be for a single person vehicle.
Enders said: “One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground.
“We are in an experimentation phase; we take this development very seriously… With flying, you don’t need to pour billions into concrete bridges and roads.”
It has been proposed people would be able to book the transportation using an app, similar to car-sharing scheme.