An interesting mobility start-up, Modi-One, has taken root at DET [City Airport]. In spirit this reminds me of a mini version of the Ford/Michigan Central story where an old transportation facility is paving the way to future means of travel.

The idea is to build an electric-powered short-run "unmanned aerial vehicle that would provide Uber-like air taxi service". Electric, autonomous, and ride-sharing--all the new mobility buzzwords in one vehicle while using automotive vs aeronautic resources.

It's an ambitious vision.

Incumbent aviation manufacturers, he said, are ensnared by the high expenses associated with lower-volume production runs and the complexity of systems needed for higher-altitude flying. Simplifying systems for flights no higher than 3,000 feet and plans for high-volume production should hold down costs.

So will a novel approach — eschewing traditional aviation suppliers for automotive ones. Central to ASX's plan is relying on Detroit's traditional auto industry and supply base, and repurposing them for aviation use.

"We're not building flying cars, but we are assembling car parts that you can fly," said Rimanelli, a Dartmouth business school graduate who previously founded Nextronix Inc., an electronics design and manufacturing firm in Romulus. "The reality is the automotive industry is very interested in electrification, automation, lightweighting, safety and reliability. Those are all the same things I'm interested in.
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https://www.crainsdetroit.com/mobili...omotive-cradle