Japanese Automaker Honda Plans to Spend $45 bln on Robots, Flying Cars, and Rockets

Honda is bolstering its research and development spending on three futuristic sectors: rockets, robots, and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), popularly known as flying cars.

Source: The Verge

Honda Motor Co down -1.82%

The automaker will invest $45 billion (5 trillion yen) on research and development in the next six years. But it failed to clarify the proportion of that amount to be spent on the specific projects.

Honda recognizes robots, rockets, and eVTOL aircraft as an extension of its core business of manufacturing automobiles.

In a briefing with reporters, Marcos Frommer, head of corporate communications for Honda stated that core technologies in the three areas are linked to the company’s existing businesses.

Frommer further stated that pursuing these new areas will help in the expansion of the core business of Honda as a mobility company.

Honda is targeting eVTOL aircraft that could be used as part of urban taxi service. But, Honda is in pursuit of a hybrid solution “as a means to realize the range desired by customers.”