XPeng Set To Mass-Produce Flying Cars By 2026

When Xpeng Aeroht, a subsidiary of Chinese EV startup Xpeng, showed its flying concept car at the Bangkok auto show last year, it turned heads. Now the Chinese startup is poised to transform this concept into reality and take its flying car from the exhibition floor to the open skies

The Chinese EV manufacturer aims to begin mass production of flying cars as early as 2026, according to a national lawmaker at the Two Sessions in Beijing cited by China Daily. This development comes as China's low-altitude economy gains momentum, supported by increasing regulatory backing.


According to He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of XPeng Motors, XPeng will be the first company in the world to mass-produce flying cars if their project proceeds as planned. He also mentioned in a The Straits Times report that the company is developing a new flight control system that combines AI with vehicle control to enhance safety and usability.

The Aeroht modular flying car is a two-seat passenger drone that can be charged and stored in the back boot of a six-wheeled, four-seater land aircraft carrier. Using a completely automated process, users will be able to drive themselves to a take-off location, disconnect the drone, board it, and fly the remainder of their journey.

In addition to cutting down on travel time, this will give consumers better access to far-flung locations. According to The Straits Times, the system, which costs no more than two million yuan (RM1.21 million), has apparently received about 3,000 orders.

Guangzhou-based Xpeng Aeroht recently revealed that construction on the flying car manufacturing site, which is situated in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, began on October 27.

According to the business, it is the first flying vehicle factory in the world to use a contemporary assembly line for mass production. It will be used to make the flying body part of its modular flying car, which is expected to have an annual capacity of 10,000 units.





Nevertheless, Xiaopeng believes that widespread adoption of flying cars will take time, due to challenges such as establishing necessary laws, policies, and regulations. 

Given the current lack of clear definition, the first generation of flying cars will likely be used primarily for tourism and short-haul rescue missions, with limited flight distances. He emphasized the need to accelerate infrastructure development, including take-off and landing sites, and to open additional airspace resources to support the industry.