XPeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of XPeng Motors, is making headlines again following its recent $150 million Series B1 funding round.
On September 3rd, the company hosted an exclusive preview event for its highly anticipated "Land Carrier" split-body flying car.
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On September 3rd, XPeng Aeroht, a subsidiary of XPeng focused on flying cars, revealed its latest innovation: the "Land Carrier," a split-body flying car. The vehicle successfully completed its first unmanned flight demonstration.
Booming eVTOL Industry
The unveiling of the "Land Carrier" comes at a time when the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry is heating up, spurred by increasing policy support for the low-altitude economy.
According to industry reports, from 2021 to 2023, China’s eVTOL sector saw 21 major funding events, with more than 10 additional rounds occurring this year alone.
Notable investments include battery giants like CATL, which recently made a strategic investment in Autoflight, another prominent player in the eVTOL space.
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Automotive giants are also entering the fray. Geely, through its subsidiary Volocopter, and Toyota, as a lead investor in Joby Aviation, as well as Porsche and Hyundai have all expressed their intentions to develop flying vehicles.
Local governments are also taking proactive steps to support the industry. Shenzhen, for example, aims to build over 1,000 low-altitude aircraft takeoff and landing platforms by 2025, while Shanghai plans to develop its low-altitude economy to surpass 50 billion yuan by 2027.
The "Land Carrier"
The "Land Carrier" is a two-module vehicle, combining a ground unit known as the "Rover" and a detachable aircraft component. The vehicle is expected to be priced under 2 million yuan.
Upcoming Milestones and Public Debut
XPeng Aeroht has ambitious plans for the "Land Carrier." The company intends to conduct its first manned flight on November 15th at the Zhuhai Air Show.
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Following this, the flying car will make its public debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show later in November.
Pre-sales are expected to kick off by the end of the year, with internal deliveries beginning by late 2025 and mass production slated for 2026.
Design and Specs: A Fusion of Land and Air
The Rover, the ground module of the "Land Carrier," draws inspiration from lunar exploration vehicles, featuring a sleek, cyberpunk look.
It features a unified headlight system and a clean side profile with suicide doors and hidden handles.
Measuring approximately 5.5 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 2 meters in height, the Rover is designed to fit comfortably in a standard parking space. It can be driven with a standard C-class driver's license.
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For reference, a Tesla Model X measures 5,036/1,999/1,684 mm in length, width, and height, respectively.
The rover uses an 800V silicon carbide extended-range power platform, capable of recharging from 30% to 80% in just 18 minutes and comes in all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering.
With a CLTC range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, the rover also serves as a power source for the aircraft, supporting 5-6 flights on a single charge.
Manual and Autonomous Modes
The "Land Carrier" offers both manual and autonomous driving modes.
The manual mode includes a single-lever operation system, while the autonomous mode comes with a full suite of intelligent flight assistance features.
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These include one-touch automatic takeoff and landing, automatic route planning, and intelligent obstacle avoidance.
In addition, the vehicle is equipped with an automatic separation and docking system, enabling seamless transitions between the Rover and the aircraft.
Beyond Personal Mobility
XPeng Aeroht sees the "Land Carrier" as more than just a personal flying car.
It envisions applications in tourism, emergency medical services, and short-range rescue missions.
The company has already signed agreements with over 70 flight camps and plans to expand to 200 camps by the end of 2024.
In a move to ensure comprehensive after-sales support, XPeng Aeroht will partner with GAMECO, a leading aircraft maintenance company based in Guangzhou, to establish the first maintenance system for flying cars in China.