I generally stay away from all non-Canadian automotive news but some stories are too good to pass up, even ones happening on the other side of the Atlantic.

A flying car is one of those topics worth writing about, even if we don’t get to experience it here in the Great White North. This story is out of the Netherlands and Dubai.

Netherlands-based PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) has just finalized a deal with Dubai-based Aviterra to deliver more than 100 of its Liberty flying vehicles to the Middle East and Africa.

Aviterra is a company that is run and backed by one of the founders of Jetex, a company specializing in executive aviation.

Aviterra sees the PAL-V flying car as part of its last-mile solution and regional air mobility offerings, according to a news release from PAL-V International B.V.

“The PAL-V is the perfect tool for our customers’ regional travel requirements, offering a combination of flying and driving. It’s truly an innovation that will change mobility as we know it,” said Mouhanad Wadaa, managing director of Aviterra, in a March 27 news release.

The PAL-V Liberty is a considered the world’s first real flying car because it is both a gyroplane and a car. It has a flight range of 500 kilometres and a maximum airspeed of 180 km/h. It can travel off congested roads.

“While running a business aviation company, we’ve always kept a close eye on the emerging advanced air mobility industry,” said Wadaa in the release. “PAL-V’s long-standing presence and adherence to existing regulations allow our customers to safely FlyDrive using existing air and road infrastructure. Furthermore, PAL-V is the only player that combines flying and driving into one vehicle. No other player in the market offers this combination and can realistically deliver the vehicles in the near future.”

Loggia Investment, the investment arm of Aviterra has made a strategic investment in PAL-V, the news release says, establishing a partnership for the Middle East and Africa region.

“Aviterra and Mr. Wadaa have vast experience in aviation, understand our certification process, and have an excellent reputation in the business aviation industry. They are a strong partner to support our sales and marketing activities in the Middle East and Africa, which is headed by our VP Middle East, Khalil Malaeb,” said PAL-V CEO and founder Robert Dingemanse in the release.

PAL-V says it is setting up regional offices around the world to grow its flying car business. These offices will support sales, maintenance, flight training and assembly.

---

Dominik Kurek is a community journalist by profession and automotive blogger by hobby. Reach him at news@emptytank.ca.