INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightUberImage caption
The aircraft is a cross between a plane and a helicopter
Uber's plan to
create flying taxis moved a step closer as the ride-hailing firm announced that it will open a laboratory in Paris to develop them.It will
with prestigious engineering school Ecole Polytechnique.The announcement will be seen as coup for President Macron who is keen to make
France a global technology hub."With world-class engineers and a leading role in global aviation, France is the perfect place to advance our
Uber Elevate program and new technology initiatives," Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement
"We're excited to partner with Ecole Polytechnique to shape the future of urban mobility, on the ground and in the air."Uber Elevate is an
ambitious project, with the firm hoping to launch sky taxis by 2023.It is working with Nasa and the US Army on the project and has two
aircraft manufacturers - Embraer and Pipistrel Aircraft - also on-board.Previously, Uber has had a tense relationship with the French
The government closed one of its services - UberPop - in 2015 and the firm temporarily shut down its Paris service in 2016 in protest
against tough new regulations.President Macron met with technology firms earlier this week at the Elysee Palace in Paris to discuss how they
are dealing with issues such as data protection and fake news.On the back of the meeting, a series of investments have been announced,
including:Facebook will fund 48 fellowships in artificial intelligence in four French universitiesIBM will create 1,800 jobs over the next
over the next two to three years
