tech
March 30, 2026
Mass production of Chinese flying car begins
At a time when the boundaries between science fiction and reality are becoming increasingly blurred, the Chinese company XPeng AeroHT is making perhaps the most concrete leap towards the era of flying cars. Their 'Land Aircraft Carrier' model, presented to the public in Guangzhou and at the prestigious China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, symbolizes the ambition to finally bring technology that has existed only in theory for decades closer to wider use.
TL;DR
- XPeng AeroHT's 'Land Aircraft Carrier' is a modular flying car system.
- It comprises a six-wheeled hybrid van ('Mothership') and a compact, two-person aircraft.
- The aircraft detaches from the van for flight, capable of autonomous maneuvers.
- It has a maximum speed of 360 km/h and can perform five to six flights on a single charge.
- The system supports both manual and automatic flight modes, with basic training taking three hours.
- The estimated price is $276,000, with over 2,000 pre-orders received.
- XPeng is constructing a factory in Guangzhou with a capacity of 10,000 units annually.
- First customer deliveries are expected in 2026.
- Public reception is mixed, with some skepticism about its classification as a 'flying car' and concerns about air traffic control and safety.