Ride-hailing giant Uber today announced that it will open its first research center outside North America in Paris, where it will spend $24 million over the next five years to develop its autonomous flying taxi technology.

Back in 2016, Uber created its Elevate program to build all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft powered by distributed electric propulsion. As part of that initiative and other autonomous vehicle efforts, Uber has opened advanced technology offices in Pittsburgh, Toronto, and San Francisco.

“Today we’re committing to a new Advanced Technologies Center, which will initially focus on Uber Elevate,” wrote Eric Allison, Uber’s head of aviation programs, in a blog post.
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