![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/3c/75/4ad2bc552b79116d9fdcdc87a8dac116.jpg)
Toyota Motor and its group companies have decided to put money into a project that's trying to develop a flying car.
Volunteer engineers from the Japanese automaker and other firms are working on the initiative. They're trying to produce a car with four rotors, each with eight blades, that can zip around like a drone.
Toyota and 14 of its group companies plan to give a lift to its development by investing about 375,000 dollars over the next three years. The project has so far relied on crowdfunding and other means of financing. The investment will bridge a funding shortfall.
The engineers want to roll out their manned flying car by January 2019. They hope to use it to light the flame at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympics. U.S. and European venture companies are also accelerating their efforts to develop flying cars for practical use.
◆rotors 回転翼
◆zip 勢いよく進む
◆give a lift to ~を押し上げる
◆crowdfunding クラウドファンディング
◆shortfall 不足
◆roll out (新製品を)売り出す、お披露目する、公開する
◆manned 人間を乗せた、有人の