Chinese Company Launches Flying Car Production, Outpacing Tesla
A Chinese firm this week commenced trial production of flying cars, which are touted as the next generation in the realm of transportation, ahead of US firm Tesla and others that plan to launch similar vehicles shortly. Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, on Monday commenced trial production at the world’s first intelligent factory dedicated to mass-producing flying cars—a significant milestone in the commercialization of next-generation transport. Situated in the Huangpu district of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, the 120,000-square-metre facility has successfully produced the initial detachable electric aircraft of its modular flying car, known as the Land Aircraft Carrier, according to a report. The facility is engineered to achieve an annual production capacity of 10,000 detachable aircraft modules, starting with an initial capacity of 5,000 units. The report indicated that it boasts the largest production capacity of any factory of its kind, with the capability to assemble one aircraft every 30 minutes once fully operational.
Tesla founder Elon Musk was stating that Rogan inquired about specific features of the technology, such as whether the automobile would include a retractable wing. However, Musk simply remarked that the unveiling has the potential to be the most memorable product reveal ever. Musk stated that the car is expected to be unveiled in a couple of months. “We need to make sure that it works,” he said. “This is remarkable technology we have in this car. Innovative technology. Unbelievably chaotic.” Another US firm, Alef Aeronautics, has recently showcased its flying car test runs, accompanied by an announcement that commercial production will commence shortly. Jim Dukhovny stated in an interview that his company has already secured over a billion USD in pre-booking orders. It will be cars driven by drivers with light plane flying licenses in addition to their driving licenses.
Xpeng announced that it has received orders for nearly 5,000 flying cars since the launch of its product, with mass production and delivery set to commence in 2026. The flying car consists of a six-wheel ground vehicle, known as the mothership, along with a detachable electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Xpeng’s eVTOL cars provide the option of both automatic and manual flight modes. The automatic mode facilitates intelligent route planning, along with one-touch take-off and landing capabilities. The vehicle, measuring approximately 5.5 metres in length, can be operated on public roads with a standard licence and can be parked in regular spaces, according to the Xinhua report. Data reveals that over 50 electric vehicle manufacturers in China exported a total of 2.01 million pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles abroad in the first eight months of the year, marking a 51 percent increase compared to the same timeframe last year.
However, Chinese EV manufacturers are encountering resistance overseas, as the EU has implemented a 27 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to restrict their sales within the bloc. According to a report published in August, Chinese EV makers are facing challenges domestically as they become victims of discount wars and chronic overcapacity on the mainland. According to the source, only half of China’s electric vehicle production capacity, which amounts to approximately 20 million units, was utilized last year. According to a recent report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, among the country’s EV builders, only four—BYD, Li Auto, Seres, and Leapmotor—are profitable.
