Xpeng Plans 2027 Flying Car Production After 7,000 Preorders

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng plans to launch large-scale production of its modular flying cars in 2027, following the receipt of more than 7,000 preorders, primarily from customers in China. The announcement, shared by company President Brian Gu ahead of the Beijing Auto Show, highlights the firm's push into advanced mobility solutions beyond traditional automobiles.

The flying vehicle, developed under Xpeng's AeroHT subsidiary and branded as the Land Aircraft Carrier, consists of a six-wheeled electric van that transports and charges a detachable two-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL. The ground vehicle, built on an 800-volt extended-range platform, offers over 1,000 kilometers of total range and can recharge the aircraft's 50-kilowatt-hour battery from 30 to 80 percent in 18 minutes, enabling five to six flights per charge. The lightweight 700-kilogram aircraft features a carbon fiber fuselage, six rotors, and a four-axis single-joystick control system, with a top speed of about 90 kilometers per hour. The complete package is priced at approximately 2 million yuan, or around $280,000.

Xpeng is advancing production at a new...