Uber announces partnership with NASA on flying car service

Uber is joining forces with NASA to develop an air traffic management system for its flying taxi service, the company announced Wednesday at a technology conference in Lisbon, as first reported by CNN.

The ride-hailing firm first unveiled its ambitious plans for a flying car project last year, as part of Uber’s effort to transform the transportation industry.

Uber will begin testing the concept in 2020 in Los Angeles, as well as in Dallas and Dubai, the company said Wednesday.

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Uber is already testing another emerging technology, self-driving cars, in various cities around the country.

The goal is to have a network of on-demand, electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically within a decade. Uber is also hoping to have commercial operations ready in time for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Uber says urban air transportation could reduce the “millions of hours” wasted on roadways every year and would be significantly cheaper than the cost of building and maintaining roads, bridges and tunnels.