The Air Taxi of the Future at CES 2026: A VGTimes Interview

One of the central exhibits at CES 2026 is a large passenger drone positioned as an air taxi. Rodion Ilin learned more about this aircraft during a conversation with Hyojung Sun, a representative of Sambo Motors, the company developing this vehicle.

VGTimes: Please introduce yourself — your name and your position in the company.

Hyojung Sun: My name is Hyojung Sun, I’m from South Korea. Our company is a first-tier supplier for Hyundai and Kia. We are expanding our business beyond traditional mobility into AI-driven mobility solutions. We are developing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vehicles, as well as smaller drones such as survey drones. At the moment, we are already in the real-world testing phase. This aircraft uses a combined thrust system with a tilt-rotor configuration at the front. During vertical takeoff, it uses eight motors for lift. When transitioning to forward flight, the front rotors tilt forward and operate like propellers for horizontal flight.

VGTimes: How long have you been developing this aircraft?

Hyojung Sun: We have been developing our Urban Air Mobility platform for about five years.

VGTimes: Is this a fully functional aircraft, or just a test prototype?

Hyojung Sun: It is a working prototype. We are conducting tests, including analysis of carbon fiber structures and adjustable bonding techniques. These tests are part of our validation process. Our previous version is already undergoing real flight tests, so yes, this is a functioning aircraft. We currently have two prototypes.

VGTimes: How many passengers is it designed for?

Hyojung Sun: This version is designed for three people. However, this model is primarily used for certification under Korean aviation regulations. Our core technology development is focused on a two-seat configuration.

VGTimes: What is the maximum flight range?

Hyojung Sun: The maximum range is over 100 miles, but for safety reasons we limit the operational range to 60 miles.

VGTimes: What happens if the battery runs low during flight?

Hyojung Sun: In practice, the reduced range already accounts for safety margins, so a battery shortage situation should not occur. But even if it did, the aircraft can continue flying using its wings. It is a hybrid system and can glide like an airplane if necessary.

VGTimes: So it’s essentially both an airplane and a drone?

Hyojung Sun: Yes. It is an airplane with a hybrid system: vertical takeoff and landing, followed by forward flight using wings.

VGTimes: When do you think this kind of transport will become part of everyday life?

Hyojung Sun: In Korea, land space is very limited and ground transportation is no longer very efficient. Air mobility allows for direct routes and the use of unused airspace. Still, it will take time. Large-scale adoption will happen after we begin commercial manufacturing. We are targeting around 2032, once certification is complete. After that, infrastructure, regulations, and related industries will need to grow together.

VGTimes: You’re showcasing this aircraft in the United States. Do you see the US as a more favorable market for real-world deployment than Korea?

Hyojung Sun: For now, we plan to conduct test operations only in Korea. However, once we are ready for mass production, we plan to operate globally.

VGTimes: Would you consider media test flights in the future?

Hyojung Sun: Yes, absolutely, it's possible. We'll definitely invite you!

VGTimes: Do you like science fiction movies, for example The Fifth Element?

Hyojung Sun: Yes, I know it. I love that movie.

VGTimes: Was it an inspiration for you?

Hyojung Sun: I understand that comparison completely. But a lot depends on battery technology. We need lightweight batteries with much higher energy density, and that industry still needs to advance faster. When that happens, something like The Fifth Element will become much more realistic.

VGTimes: Thank you very much for your time.

Hyojung Sun: Thank you for coming.

Article by Rodion Ilin and Fazil Dzhyndzholiia.

VGTimes has been operating since 2011 and during this time has attended dozens of exhibitions and festivals where our journalists gathered numerous exclusive materials. For example, in 2019 we attended a closed Cyberpunk 2077 showing at gamescom, in 2017 we prepared a photo report from WG Fest, in 2020 we were at Central Asia's largest gaming event CAGS, and we also visited "IgroMir" several times, where we saw Hideo Kojima and other famous developers. Last year, we traveled to the land of the rising sun for TGS 2024, where we were amazed by the scale of the event. And this year we saw with our own eyes one of Asia's major gaming exhibitions — ChinaJoy in Shanghai and gamescom asia in Bangkok.