XPeng HT Unveils Split-Body Flying Car at Beijing Auto Show, Targets 2026 Mass Production Under ¥2 Million

At the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, XPeng AeroHT unveiled its modular flying car, the "Land Aircraft Carrier," drawing large crowds who queued up for a chance to experience it. Although not yet in mass production, the vehicle has already garnered over 7,000 pre-orders and is scheduled for scaled-up production in 2026, with a target price under RMB 2 million (approximately USD 280,000). Wan Gang, Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, visited the booth and examined the vehicle’s automatic folding mechanism alongside He Xiaopeng, founder of XPeng Group. The flying car features a three-axle, six-wheel, all-wheel-drive SUV chassis capable of handling all terrains. Equipped with an aviation-grade range-extending system, it can detach its flight module within five minutes, seamlessly switching between ground and aerial modes. Its core technologies include an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) system, which shares significant synergies with new energy vehicles in areas such as the "three electric" systems (battery, motor, and electronic control), thermal management, and intelligent driving algorithms. XPeng AeroHT is pursuing a multi-pronged technical strategy, covering multirotor, compound-wing, and tilt-rotor configurations. Through a distributed propulsion architecture, the company achieves full-system redundancy to ensure flight safety. The flight control system simplifies operational logic, enabling users to master flying after only brief training—no traditional pilot license required. In terms of commercialization, XPeng AeroHT follows a “scenario-first” approach. It has already established over 200 flying campsites in scenic areas, wilderness zones, and urban fringes, offering flight training and recreational services while exploring public-use scenarios such as emergency medical transport and obstacle-crossing rescue operations. The world’s first 6S store (sales, service, spare parts, survey, schooling, and second-hand) dedicated to flying cars is set to open in mid-2024. Additionally, Dunhuang has launched Northwest China’s first low-altitude self-driving aerial tourism route. A larger model—the six-seater A868, capable of speeds up to 360 km/h—is currently under development and expected to enter service within three to five years. Low-altitude economy has now been designated a national emerging pillar industry. China’s low-altitude economic market is projected to surpass RMB 1 trillion by 2026 and reach RMB 4 trillion by 2035. While full-scale adoption will likely require 10 to 20 years of supportive policies and infrastructure development, 2026 is widely seen as a pivotal year when the industry transitions from the “dream phase” to the “implementation phase.”