Japan's government and industry set a roadmap for 'flying cars'

In late 2018, Japan's government and industry drew up a roadmap for what officials called an "air mobility revolution", commonly described as "flying cars". It was prepared by a public-private council set up by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the transport ministry (MLIT), with manufacturers, airlines, technology firms and start-ups taking part.

The plan set out a staged path. Test flights and demonstrations were to come first, followed by early commercial uses such as goods transport and services in remote areas or islands, with the target of starting around the mid-2020s. Wider passenger services in cities were envisioned for later, in the 2030s.

The roadmap also listed what had to be settled before then: safety standards and aircraft certification, rules for pilots and air traffic management, battery and aircraft technology, and public acceptance. It mattered because it gave companies a shared timetable and signalled state backing. That framework later underpinned business plans such as regional air taxi projects, including those now aimed at the Osaka and Kyoto area.