What is the cost? A whopping $777,000 – though Komatsu hopes to reduce the price of a smaller, electric model to $50,000 by 2025.
A hoverbike that Japanese manufacturers plan to launch in the United States next year made its debut in the United States on Thursday at the Detroit Auto Show, drawing perhaps unavoidable comparisons to the speeder bikes of “Star Wars.”
The XTURISMO hoverbike is made by Japanese startup AERWINS Technologies and can fly for 40 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 62 miles per hour (100 kph).
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“I feel like I’m literally 15 years old and I just got out of ‘Star Wars’ and jumped on their bike,” said Thad Szott, co-chair of the auto show after taking a test drive – or, perhaps, a test hover.
“I mean, it’s awesome! Of course, you have a little apprehension, but I was just so amped. I literally had goosebumps and feel like a little kid.”
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The hoverbike is already on sale in Japan, and Shuhei Komatsu, founder and CEO of AERWINS, said plans were underway to sell a smaller version in the United States in 2023.
What is the cost? A whopping $777,000 – though Komatsu hopes to reduce the price of a smaller, electric model to $50,000 by 2025.
AERWINS announced earlier this month that it planned to list on the NASDAQ through a merger with a special acquisition company valued at $600 million.
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