Alauda Aeronautics, the creator and technical team behind Airspeeder, the world’s first racing series for flying electric cars, is delighted to announce the successful conclusion of its 250th Test Flight.
This historic milestone for the global eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) industry validates the company’s foundational mission that racing will rapidly accelerate a mobility industry that is predicated by Morgan Stanley to be worth $1.5trillion by 20240.
This next phase will bring electric flying car racing to a global audience through the world’s first Grand Prix series. These events will be hosted on every continent and provide a vital place and space for the Advanced Air Mobility industry to rapidly accelerate technology and build mass enthusiasm and awareness for world-changing eVTOL technology (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles).
Furthermore, it will drive Alauda Aeronautics, the designer and manufacturing of the racing craft that will take part in Airspeeder’s forthcoming GP races (also owned by Matt Pearson) to develop the world’s first private performance eVTOL craft for private use.
This follows a proven path from the luxury and performance automotive world. Companies like Ferrari established their legends on the race-track and then built road-going supercars to satisfy demand for private performance machines. This ‘race it on Sunday, fly it on Monday’ approach and will create the private performance segment of the rapidly expanding global eVTOL industry.
Airspeeder and Alauda were created by entrepreneur Matt Pearson in 2019. His vision to accelerate the electric flying car mobility revolution through racing has already gained significant momentum. In early 2020, the company announced the conclusion of a seed round that raised significant funds from leading VCs including Jelix Ventures and Saltwater Capital.
These investors have been attracted by the company’s proven route to commercialising the eVTOL industry. It does this by creating a safe and controlled environment for manufacturers and associated suppliers to test, prove and build awareness for this world charging mobility technology.
Airspeeder is also its own rights-holder and is developing a sport that stands alone in intersecting the worlds of motsportport, esports and technology. This exposes Airspeeder to audiences native to industries worth a collective $47billion (USD) and with an audience and number of active participation in the billions.
This blue-chip endorsement and subsequent VC backing affirms the enormous industry excitement around racing as not only an acceleration force for the development of a new technology but the rapid route to commercialising eVTOL craft that it provides.
In 2021, the Swiss luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen joined Airspeeder as engineering and timekeeping partner. Combining the passion both companies share for technological progress, human endeavour and sustainability, both companies are working together in pioneering this new form of motorsport and fast track a new era of clean-air mobility
Airspeeder is a sport with a true purpose. It is built to create a real and practical testing environment for an industry with the potential to revolutionise the way that we move around urban environments.
To achieve this, the company has since attracted as sponsors and technical partners some of the world’s leading backers of transitional motorsport. This includes Acronis and their delivery partner Teknov8, one of the world’s leading cyber security companies, DHL, the German logistics giant, , Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications company in partnership with Amazon Web Services.
The work Alauda Aeronautics has already undertaken across multiple test-flights in preparation for racing is already defining the digital and physical infrastructure that will underpin the flying car revolution.
For example, Telstra in partnership with Amazon Web Services are working with Alauda’s engineers to provide remote connectivity solutions utilising 5G technology to drive the suite of technologies that will deliver safe racing and the ability to broadcast and stream to a global audience in real time.
For example, the ‘virtual force field’ which utilises the latest LiDAR and RADAR technologies to ensure Speeders can race blade-to-blade without making contact will serve as the foundations for the digital solutions that will allow safe autonomous eVTOL passenger flying in urban settings.
The company has also proven its ability to deliver highly complex technical programmes. In June 2021 it revealed footage of the world’s first full-scale electric flying race-car flight. These tests have continued with the world’s first multiple vehicle flights including a historic drag-race. In doing so the company has worked in lock-step with global regulators to define certification and regulation.
Alauda has attracted some of the world’s leading technical talent. This includes senior engineers from Airbus, Boeing, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Mclaren and Jaguar Land Rover.
A highly talented pilots roster is led by former F1-driver Bruno Senna of Formula 1, Formula E, FIA World Endurance Championship driver and World eX race winner.
He was drawn to an existing roster of world-class talent through his long-standing personal interest in UAV flying and development. Indeed, he personally works on modifications for drones and is fascinated by the iterative technical improvements that can be made through modifications and upgrades. This combination of world-class driving talent, eSports pedigree and a passion for flying makes him the blueprint development driver for electric flying car racing.
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