(EADSY), (BA), (AAL), (DAL), (UAL), (ACHR), (EVEX), (JOBY), (LILM), (EVTL), (GOOG), (TSLA), (AI), (LAZR), (CPTN), (INVZ), (MBLY), (NRNC), (STLA), (DAL), (NVDA)
It looks like the Jetsons' future is finally landing in our backyard. Minnesota just became the second U.S. state to roll out the welcome mat for flying cars, following New Hampshire's lead back in 2020.
They're calling it the "Jetsons Law," and it's got me more excited than a kid with a new remote-control airplane.
Now, before you start plotting your airborne commute to beat the morning traffic, let's pump the brakes (or should I say, adjust the flaps?). We're still a few years away from skyways replacing highways, but the regulatory runway is being paved as we speak.
This new law in Minnesota is letting folks register their "roadable aircraft" as motor vehicles, using tail numbers instead of license plates. It's like your car and your private jet had a baby, and the government is finally acknowledging its existence.
But don't get any ideas about taking off from your driveway – these flying cars still need to use designated airfields for takeoffs and landings. The FAA isn't ready to see Ford Focuses sprouting wings just yet.
Now, you might be asking, "Who's actually building these things?"
Well, we've got the old guard of aviation, Airbus (EADSY) and Boeing (BA), throwing their considerable weight behind flying taxis and eVTOL (that's "electric vertical takeoff and landing" for those of you who don't speak aerospace) prototypes.
Not to be outdone, the airlines are getting in on the action too. American Airlines (AAL), Delta (DAL), and United (UAL) are all pouring millions into this pie-in-the-sky idea.
But the real action is with the new kids on the block.
We're talking companies like Archer Aviation (ACHR), Eve Air Mobility (EVEX), Joby Aviation (JOBY), Lilium (LILM), and Vertical Aerospace (EVTL).
These upstarts are betting the farm on urban air mobility, and let me tell you, the numbers they're throwing around are enough to make your head spin faster than a helicopter rotor.
Take Archer Aviation, for example. These folks are so confident in the future of urban air mobility that they're projecting a market worth $1 trillion by 2030.
To put that in perspective, that's about the same as the entire economy of Mexico. I'm not saying we should all sell our cars and invest in personal helicopters just yet, but those are some eye-popping figures.
Interestingly, most car manufacturers are sitting this one out. They're more focused on self-driving cars and electric vehicles. It's like they're saying, "Let's master the road before we conquer the skies."
Smart move or missed opportunity? Only time will tell.
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. AI is set to play a bigger role in these flying cars than a backseat driver on a family road trip. We're talking autonomous flight, predictive maintenance, and traffic management systems that would make air traffic controllers obsolete.
Companies like Alphabet (GOOG) (through its Waymo subsidiary) and Tesla (TSLA) are already knee-deep in self-driving tech. It's not a huge leap to imagine that same tech guiding your flying car safely through the skies.
And when it comes to keeping these sky-high jalopies in tip-top shape, AI companies like C3.ai (AI) and Uptake Technologies are chomping at the bit to apply their predictive maintenance magic.
But let's not forget about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the jetpack in the garage? Safety.
We're talking about vehicles that need to be roadworthy and airworthy. It's like asking your SUV to also be a submarine. That's where companies like Luminar Technologies (LAZR), Cepton (CPTN), and Innoviz Technologies (INVZ) come in.
These folks are working on lidar sensors that could help your flying car avoid collisions, whether you're cruising down Main Street or soaring over it.
And let's not overlook the brains of the operation. Mobileye (MBLY) and Cerence Inc. (CRNC) are cooking up AI systems that could make piloting a flying car as easy as asking Siri for directions.
Imagine telling your car, "Take me to work," and then sitting back to enjoy your coffee while it handles the rest. That's the kind of future we're looking at.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "John, this all sounds great, but how do I get a piece of this airborne action?" Well, here's where it gets tricky.
The flying car industry is still in its infancy. It's like trying to invest in smartphones back when the Motorola brick was cutting-edge technology.
But if you're looking to dip your toes in these high-flying waters, companies like Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are good places to start. They're making real progress in eVTOL technology and have partnerships with big names like Stellantis (STLA) and Delta Air Lines (DAL), respectively.
For those of you who prefer a more grounded approach (pun absolutely intended), keep an eye on companies developing the underlying technologies.
Nvidia (NVDA), for instance, isn't building flying cars, but their AI chips could very well be the brains behind them.
Remember, though, this is a long-term play. We're talking years, maybe even decades, before flying cars become as common as Ubers.
But for those with patience and a high tolerance for risk, the potential rewards could be sky-high.
In the meantime, I'll be keeping my feet firmly on the ground and my eyes on the horizon. After all, in the world of investing, sometimes the biggest gains come from spotting the next big thing before it takes off.
And in this case, that takeoff might just be literal.
So, while I'm excited about the potential, I'm not rushing to sell my car just yet. I'll be watching this space closely, ready to jump in when the time is right.
Because in investing, as in aviation, timing is everything.
