Japan wants to commercialize flying vehicles as early as the 2020s through a government- backed campaign that already has recruited the likes of Subaru, Uber and Boeing. The country's powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry launched the project last month with a meeting that pulled together public agencies and private industry. The flight of fancy comes amid Japan's concern that its auto industry was caught flat-footed in other emerging global technology trends such as autonomous driving and ride-hailing. The government wants Japan to have a leading role when it comes to personal flying vehicles. "Globally, there is a growing interest in what is called'flying cars' that will enable such transportation services in the sky," the trade ministry said in a statement after the first meeting.