Xpeng Has Sold 2,000 Land Aircraft Carriers, but Where Do They Fly?

The Chinese Xpeng is experiencing great success with its vehicle equipped with an eVTOL sold for €270,000, but flight permissions are still lacking.

The transportation method that will become the most democratized in the coming century will be electric and individual aerial mobility. We are no longer in full science fiction. The automation of trips, without a pilot, is already a reality. All that remains are flight certifications for each device and a restrictive legislative framework to prevent chaos in the skies over cities and countryside.

China has positioned itself at the forefront of this field and aims to capture the future market with, again, clever, intelligent products that are especially not “very” expensive. Indeed, XPENG already markets a hybrid road vehicle in China measuring 5.5 meters long – the Land Aircraft Carrier – which features a charging platform for the eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) called Xpeng AeroHT. This platform is powered by 800-volt current to recharge the flying device during trips but also at rest. That’s why the ultra-stylish “van” is hybrid. It can operate as a range extender.

Xpeng states that recharging the AeroHT from 30% to 80% takes only 18 minutes but does not specify the flight range for now. Two passengers can be onboard and choose between manual piloting and 100% automatic mode. The key point is the enhanced safety and convenience of being transported with much less risk than human control.

Is XPENG grounded?

Xpeng has already sold 2008 units of its Land Aircraft Carrier + AeroHT duo, mainly to private companies that will then operate them for clients. Production will be handled in a brand-new factory in China, with the first deliveries starting in 2026. The maximum annual volume will be 10,000 units!

However, to date, eVTOLs still have not obtained flight authorization. Nevertheless, in China, for example, the Civil Aviation Administration has already issued special flight permits for similar aircraft. This indicates progress toward integrating eVTOLs into urban airspace in the very short term. In the next 24 months, administrative and legal landscapes are expected to evolve significantly, as the race is on between China, Europe, and North America.

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