FLYING cars might soon be a reality after the unveiling of an ultra-sleek model from China.
The Land Aircraft Carrier is a low-altitude flying car from the Chinese electric vehicle startup, Xpeng AeroHT.
The company is in talks with possible investors to begin its Series B round of funding this year.
The two-person vehicle features a Cybertruck-like design and is able to vertically take off and land.
A prototype of the vehicle has been spotted soaring through the air in viral video footage.
Some clips have even shown the car flying high over cities.
Zhoa Deli, founder and president of Xpeng, told Supercar Blondie that each unit will cost about one million Chinese Yuan, or $138,100 USD.
Mass delivery of the vehicle is expected to begin in late 2025.
Qiu Mingqua, Vice President of Xpeng told Nikkei Asia that while other electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft lack ground mobility, their model has dual functionality.
“If large-scale mass production becomes possible, we can dramatically reduce costs,” for materials such as carbon fiber he told the outlet.
Xpeng gained more than $500 million in its Series A financing in 2021 – the largest in the global flying car industry.
The car features lightweight, carbon-fiber propellers with green and red lights to alert onlookers which side of the vehicle they’re looking at.
The model is roughly 19 feet in length with a panel that uncovers the propellers when in flight.
In flight, the vehicle takes off and lands similar to a drone helicopter.
It’s unclear when the car will, if ever, be made road-legal.
The company is looking to gain an airworthiness certificate to operate the aircraft.
Flying ‘super car’ unveiled at CES
A FLYING car has been unveiled in a world-first international debut at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.
The car has been designed by XPeng Aeroht, which refers to itself as the largest flying car manufacturer in Asia.
The Chinese company has called the car the “eVTOL flying supercar.”
We exclusively spoke to the co-founder, vice president, and chief designer of Xpeng Aeroht, Wang Tan, about the need for flying cars in the future.
He told The U.S. Sun: “Humans are 3D animals but the transportation is 2D.
“Everybody wants to fly actually and to have another view, another angle, to see the gorgeous view.”
He added that users will be able to beat traffic and fly out of congestion zones.
Tan said he’s flown in another flying vehicle that he designed but hasn’t been in the eVTOL flying supercar as it’s still being worked on.
CES attendees witnessed a live demonstration of propellers shooting from the car.
Xpeng hopes to target tourist companies and outdoors enthusiasts for the vehicle.
There are also plans for a global expansion with a focus on markets in the Middle East.
“The Middle East is an important market for us, given the level of regulation, openness to new things and cost,” said Qiu.
However, Vice President He Tianxing said the company has received inquiries from Southeast Asia.
China makes up 50% of the world’s eVTOL models, according to a report from China Merchants Securities.
It ranks far above the US’s 18% and Germany’s 8%.
The global eVTOL market is expected to reach $23.4 billion by 2030, about 19 times the size of it last year, according to market research.
Growth of the market is expected in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
