Xpeng affiliate nearing certification for flying car
AeroHT, an affiliate of Chinese electric-vehicle maker Xpeng, has started the countdown for the commercialisation of its flying car and plans to start taking pre-orders in the fourth quarter.
The company, controlled by Xpeng co-founder and chief executive He Xiaopeng, said in a statement yesterday it was edging closer to receiving airworthiness certification and was prepared to foster a flying culture that could change people’s lives.
However, it did not reveal a time frame for the flying car’s launch. Nor did it provide prices.
AeroHT began developing its flying car a decade ago. On Thursday, He told a media briefing at the Auto China show in Beijing that the so-called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or drone, would enrich people’s lives as it would provide an additional option for public transport and enable passengers to avoid traffic jams.
“The low-altitude air travel business has big potential for growth,” he said. “In China, in particular, its business outlook is bright amid the development of the future of mobility.”
Urban air mobility focuses on aerial connectivity in and around cities. Unlike many rivals that are aiming for corporate customers, AeroHT said it would target individuals and explore efficient, safe and carbon-neutral mobility solutions that went beyond electric cars.
Last month, the flying car start-up announced its AeroHT Voyager X2 had completed a low-altitude flight in the central business district of Guangzhou.
“Institutional investors and rich consumers will show keen interest in the drone-like cars as urban air mobility is a brand new notion in the transport sector,” said Ding Haifeng, a consultant with Shanghai-based financial advisory firm Integrity.
“Government support is also important for the industry’s future growth. Fortunately, transport and other relevant authorities are taking a positive stance on urban air technology and its business model.”
Last month, Beijing named Guangzhou as a base for the industry. Nansha, a district in Guangzhou, was picked to develop a citywide management system for unmanned vehicles as well as industry standards for a “low-altitude economy”, according to a document from the National Development and Reform Commission.
Last week, AeroHT signed a preliminary agreement with Panyu district, also in Guangzhou, to jointly build take-off and landing sites for flying cars.
A raft of start-ups are developing flying cars, betting on the future of mobility being at least partially airborne.
Lilium, a German company, completed fundraising of US$830 million in a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deal on the Nasdaq stock exchange in 2021. American electric-air taxi start-up Joby raised US$1.6 billion in a SPAC deal the same year.
Volocopter, another German flying car developer and partner of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, is also seeking to operate its air taxi services in China.