Xpeng Motors, a prominent player in the Chinese automotive industry for a decade, has been at the forefront of futuristic innovations. Spy shots of its upcoming flying Land Carrier model emerged a few days ago. Many believed this SUV and flying vehicle combo wouldn’t see the light of day, but these photos show the company is serious about its production goals. Here is a bit of background:

In January this year, Xpeng Motors announced a partnership with Huitian / AeroHT through 2025 (He Xiaopeng Holdings, known internationally as AeroHT). Furthermore, after holding a presentation at CES, Xpeng announced official plans to begin mass production of a flying vehicle in the fourth quarter of 2025, which will be sold by AeroHT.

Flying car projects have been in the works for a long time, and the company filed for patents last year. The company has three models at the forefront of their flying car ambitions: the X2, a traditional VTOL type aircraft, the recently confirmed for production “Land Carrier” model, and another unnamed prototype with integrated car and VTOL functionality.

Xpeng’s iteration, the Land Carrier, has a modular design in which the attached VTOL lacks wheels, resembling more of a “small helicopter” than a traditional flying car. This design assists ground movement yet poses challenges in extended flight times due to high energy consumption.

Xpeng AeroHT initially planned to launch its first flying car in 2024 with a price tag of 1 million yuan (140K USD) However, it was postponed to 2025. As the industry evolves, costs may be reduced, making flying cars more accessible in the future. Yet, beyond technological advancements, unlocking the skies for flying cars demands regulatory changes. China’s stringent airspace regulations, prohibiting low-altitude flight in many regions, represent a significant hurdle yet to be overcome.

Source: PC Auto