In a major step toward integrating flying taxis into daily transportation, Saudi Arabia is all set to produce thousands of eCopters, FlyNow Aviation’s electric air vehicles, all of which will carry the “Saudi Made” label, according to FlyNow Aviation’s Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Yvonne Winter.
The Austria-based FlyNow Aviation is working to set up the assembly plant and will start the production of the cargo version in 2027. Officially, FlyNow’s eCopters are expected to transport the public during Riyadh Expo 2030.
“Additionally, test operations (sandbox flights) are planned for 2025 in Saudi Arabia to adapt the technology to local conditions,” Winter told Arab News.
Speaking about the future of mobility in Saudi Arabia, she said: “Saudi Arabia is not only transforming its economy — it is shaping the future of mobility for the entire world.”
She added: “Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Vision 2030, the Kingdom is proving that bold ideas, advanced technology, and national pride can work hand in hand. We are honored to be part of this historic journey and proud to contribute to building Saudi-made solutions for global air mobility.”
In May 2024, FlyNow Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the National Industrial Development Center, and the Sky Alliance for Automated Air Mobility.
“The cooperation aims to support the development of electric air mobility in Saudi Arabia, including regulations, airspace integration, vertiport infrastructure, and operational guidelines for unmanned air taxis,” Winter explained.
In late 2024, FlyNow Aviation established a new company, FlyNow Arabia Ltd., in Riyadh, as part of its expansion strategy. The company plans to set up local production facilities to serve both domestic and international markets.
FlyNow is an alumnus of the Destination Deep Tech program at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and Winter has been invited to share insights with the participants of the follow-up program called KAUST ScaleX, which has been designed to support innovative global tech startups in expanding their operations into the Kingdom’s market.
Recently, Flynow achieved a significant milestone in the development of its modular eCopter family: the first untethered test flights were successfully completed at the newly secured testing site in Eastern Austria. This location enables unrestricted flight operations and accelerates its technical progress.
