EV maker Xpeng’s flying car takes first flight in Beijing in step towards commercialisation

X2, a flying car made by Xpeng affiliate AeroHT, took off at Beijing Daxing International Airport

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X2, a flying car made by Xpeng affiliate AeroHT, has completed its maiden flight at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:02pm, 16 Jun 2024

A flying car made by AeroHT, an affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, took off at Beijing Daxing International Airport on Sunday for its maiden flight in the capital city, as the firm moves closer to commercialising its aircraft amid growing policy support for the so-called low-altitude economy.

The X2 was demonstrated during the China Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair, which kicked off on the same day and runs through Thursday.

AeroHT, controlled by Xpeng co-founder and CEO He Xiaopeng, said in April that it had started making preparations for the commercialisation of its flying car and planned to take orders beginning in the fourth quarter this year. The company did not provide an expected price range.

China’s low-altitude economy, consisting of businesses operating unmanned drones and manned aerial vehicles below 3,000 metres in altitude, has been on the rise since 2021, after the central government introduced policies and regulations to bolster the nascent sector.

Development could further accelerate after the central government in 2024 included the low-altitude economy in its work report for the first time. Twenty-six provincial governments laid out plans for the low-altitude economy this year, according to official data published in April.

The Beijing municipality in March issued a blueprint for its low-altitude sector, with plans to establish three major air routes connecting neighbouring areas by 2027, covering scenarios such as emergency rescue, logistics and distribution, cultural tourism, commuting and more.