Commercial 'air commute' by flying cars closer to takeoff

At sunrise over the Persian Gulf in Dubai, a black, pod-shaped aircraft detached from its six-wheel carrier vehicle and rose steadily into the sky.

For several minutes, it circled above calm waters before returning smoothly to the helipad.

The flight in mid-October was brief, but for XPeng Aeroht — and for China's fast-emerging low-altitude economy — it was a significant moment: the first public, piloted overseas flight of a Chinese flying car.

The demonstration was not merely a technological showcase but also a precise commercial engagement.

At the event, the company based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, signed pre-sale agreements for 600 units of the Land Aircraft Carrier with customers from the Middle East.

At 2 million yuan ($281,200) per unit, the total contract value exceeded 1.2 billion yuan, setting a record for the largest overseas order of Chinese flying cars.

XPeng Aeroht has long been a key player in the flying car sector. Founded in 2020, it is the largest flying car company in Asia, specializing in the research, development and manufacturing of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.

The Land Aircraft Carrier, the model signed in the pre-sale, comprises a six-wheel ground vehicle, referred to as the "mothership", and a detachable electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

The eVTOL aircraft offers both automatic and manual flight modes. Its automatic mode enables smart route planning, as well as one-touch takeoff and landing.

At about 5.5 meters in length, the vehicle can be driven on public roads with a standard license and parked in regular parking spaces.

The flight module accommodates two passengers, with a maximum range of 130 kilometers and a top speed of 120 km/h, making it suitable for short-distance commuting and tourism.

Ali Ahmad Al Blooshi, an official from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said the Chinese solution for flying cars will help realize Dubai's vision of "air commuting".

"Imagine a flight from Dubai to Abu Dhabi taking just 30 minutes. Personally, I'd definitely want one in the future," he said.

To date, global orders for the model have exceeded 7,000 units, demonstrating strong market recognition.

To support large-scale delivery, XPeng Aeroht has fully advanced its industrial layout.

Its flying car manufacturing plant in Guangzhou was completed in late September, with an annual production capacity at the "10,000-unit level", the company said. Trial production started in early November.

Meanwhile, the company has built a research team of over 500 engineers and has filed more than 1,000 patents.

It has developed proprietary technologies in battery energy density, autonomous driving algorithms, and lightweight materials.