Chinese company Xpeng plans to mass produce modular flying cars in 2026 as China steps up efforts to develop a "low-lying economy," The Straits Times reports.
The Xpeng flying vehicle won't be a self-driving car, but rather a "land-based aircraft carrier" — a six-wheeled van with a passenger drone that deploys from the trunk. The driver will be able to drive to a landing pad, detach the drone, and continue their journey through the air. In theory, this should reduce travel times and improve accessibility to remote areas.
Such a modular flying car would be part of a rapidly growing "low-altitude economy" sector that involves the use of drones and helicopters for delivery. Industry experts estimate that the market will reach about one trillion yuan by 2025, and its value could more than triple by 2030.
The Xpeng car will cost no more than two million yuan (about $276,000). The company conducted its first public flight at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024, after which it received about three thousand orders. In October, the company also began construction of a factory, which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
After the factory is completed, Xpeng plans to begin mass production of modular flying cars in the second quarter of 2026. This will make Xpeng the first company "in China and the world" to mass produce and supply such vehicles.
The company's CEO, He Xiaopeng, notes that the first cars will likely be limited to shorter-distance flights and used mainly for tourism or rescue missions.