A Car Unfolds Its Wings and Flies... Xpeng AeroHT to Begin First 'Flying Car' Sales This Year

AeroHT, a subsidiary of Xpeng in China
A "flying car" with propellers for vertical takeoff and landing
600 orders from the Middle East... Considering collaboration with Korean automakers

Xpeng AeroHT, a flying car development subsidiary of the Chinese mobility company Xpeng, is expected to begin its first sales as early as this year. The company is considering entering Asian markets, including Korea, starting with the Middle East, and has also left open the possibility of collaborating with domestic automakers.

A "flying car" refers to a vehicle that can drive on roads and then take off into the sky at the push of a button, making it useful in situations such as traffic congestion or emergency rescues. While most urban air mobility (UAM) companies are developing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) in the form of small airplanes, Xpeng is developing a car-based aircraft that allows an automobile to deploy wings and take flight directly.

Wangtan Xiaopeng, Vice President of AeroHT, is speaking at the "2025 Future Innovation Technology Expo" held on the 22nd at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association

On October 22, Wangtan Xiaopeng, Vice President of AeroHT, stated in an interview with the Korea Automobile Journalists Association at the "2025 Future Innovation Technology Expo" (hereafter FIX 2025) held at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu, "We have completed the world's first mass-production flying car factory in Guangdong, China, and will begin mass production next year. We have already assembled about 100 to 150 units." Vice President Wang added that the company plans to introduce flying cars sequentially in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and other regions.

He said, "We have already received orders for 600 units just from the Middle East. Since regulations and certification procedures differ by country, we will decide on market entry after considering these factors, and I definitely want to enter the Korean market someday." He continued, "In Korea, we are reviewing various cooperation models, such as operating experience programs like 'Flying Camp' with local partners, as well as collaborating with domestic automakers."

Wangtan Xiaopeng, Vice President of AeroHT, is speaking at the "2025 Future Innovation Technology Expo" held on the 22nd at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association

Regarding the entry of major automakers, including Hyundai Motor Company, into the UAM industry, he evaluated it as "very positive." He continued, "The commercialization of UAM is a complex process, but it will definitely become a reality, and I am very optimistic." However, he identified "safety" as the top priority for commercialization, stating, "The next three to five years will be a period for system improvements and testing."

Vice President Wang said that the goal of Xpeng's flying car business development is "to give everyone the freedom to fly." He explained, "I was originally a helicopter pilot. It takes about 40 hours to learn to fly a helicopter, but it only takes three to five minutes to learn how to operate our flying car. Children often imagine what it would be like to fly in the sky, and our goal is to make that dream a reality."

The 'X2' model playing car exhibited at the '2025 Future Innovation Technology Expo' held on the 22nd at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. Photo by Jeon Youngjoo

Vice President Wang stated that certification for the flying car will be completed this year, and customer deliveries could begin as early as this year. He said, "The first customer will emerge either this year or next year," and added, "We expect to receive airworthiness certification from the Chinese government by the end of this year." The "X2" model, exhibited for the first time at FIX 2025, can fly at a speed of 130 km/h for 25 minutes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.