Xpeng’s Modular Flying Car is Ready

We will soon have the choice between driving and flying for our daily commutes. But for Xpeng, both must coexist.

Xpeng’s ground and air subsidiary has officially launched its modular flying car Xpeng AeroHT. It consists of a ground transport vehicle and an eVTOL. Its first public flight is scheduled for November this year, and it already has a price since pre-orders will soon open at a cost of less than 2 million yuan, or around 270,000 euros. First deliveries are expected in 2026.

The initial goal was to commercialize a flying Hypercar by 2025, a road-legal car with deployable rotors on the roof. It seems that the first tests were not particularly conclusive, notably due to the turbulence caused by the rotors during ground rolling phases. Even when retracted, an aerodynamic element remains particularly sensitive to wind, and beyond a certain speed, everything became uncontrollable. The solution would have been to hide the rotors within the bodywork, but in that case, goodbye to the sporty line. Therefore, the best solution was to conceal the flying device within the rolling device. 1+1 makes 2 rather than 2 in 1.

Xpeng plays the versatility card

The ultra-futuristic ensemble consists of two main elements. The first is the eVTOL carrier, a large three-axle vehicle measuring 5.5 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 2 meters high. Its look is ultra-minimalist, with sharp angles and flat surfaces, devoid of protrusions, featuring flush door handles and digital mirrors. Built on the in-house high-voltage 800V platform, it includes a range extender, which is an internal combustion engine that provides no propulsion but powers electric motors and a battery.

The mixed range of this carrier reaches up to 1,000 km, and the 800V platform can charge the eVTOL from 30 to 80% in 18 minutes. This large electric drone has two driving modes: manual and automatic. It can land and dock automatically with the carrier. To fit into the carrier’s trunk, it folds its rotors. With a full charge, the eVTOL can provide 5 to 6 short-distance flights. But what distance exactly? A mystery, we’ll have to wait for the Zhuhai air show in November to find out more.

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