A Chinese car firm has unveiled an extraordinary new electric vehicle (EV) that allows drivers to park up – and then take to the skies.
Manufacturer Xpeng AeroHT launched its new Land Aircraft Carrier at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week, showing off the car’s unique design.
Inside the “mothership”, a futuristic six-wheel drive, hybrid van, is a small, helicoper-like vehicle described as a “flying car”, with an automatic detachment that can be activated with the touch of a button.
The mini-chopper, an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, can be charged by the mothership, has fold-away rotors, and is able to fit neatly in the boot.
The cockpit offers a 270° panoramic view, single-stick control and intelligent assistance for automated route planning, real-time airspace monitoring, and precision landing, as per Interesting Engineering.
Drivers looking to use the aircraft element will be able to take-off and drop back down on landing stations, the company says.
Xpeng AeroHT says on its website it is categorising and setting up “flying camps” around cities and along classic road trip routes with landing platforms and “unobstructed airspace conditions”.
These sites will provide services including “flight experiences, operational support, flight training, and recreational activities for users”.
The flying element can be either piloted or autonomous, and has received its first level of certification from Chinese regulators, the outlet reports.
First deliveries expected in 2026, prices expected to start at around two million yuan (around £223.8k) in China.
However, it’s thought that it could be some time before such vehicles are seen zooming over cities in the West.
Sergio Cecutta, an aviation expert at SMG Consulting in LA told outlet that the Land Aircraft Carrier “is a viable product for China”, but it is “close to impossible for something like that to be certified in the West”.
“These two vehicles coming together — I think it’s something that is unique, at least for now. It is not the pinnacle of aerospace technology, but it’s definitely something new,” he added.
Xpeng CEO and co-founder Wang Tan said: “The ‘Land Aircraft Carrier’ represents just the beginning of XPENG AEROHT’s journey to redefine mobility.
“As we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible, XPENG AEROHT is committed to leading the low-altitude mobility revolution, making the dream of flying cars a reality for people around the world.”
