On June 16, Xpeng’s flying car successfully completed its first flight at Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China. This flight opens up the prospect of commercializing low-altitude air travel between and within urban areas in the future.
The flight was conducted by the X2 flying car from AeroHT (a subsidiary of Xpeng) at the Daxing International Airport Economic Zone in the capital, Beijing. The flying car was showcased during the Lang Fang International Economic and Trade Fair, which took place from June 16 to June 20.
Earlier this year, AeroHT prepared for the commercialization of flying cars, with plans to begin accepting orders in Q4 2024 and to start mass production and deliveries in Q4 2025.
The X2 flying car had its international debut in Dubai in 2022. The X2 produces no CO2 emissions during operation, making it a significant step towards achieving green urban transportation. The price of this vehicle has not yet been announced.
The flight conducted by the X2 flying car at Daxing International Airport Economic Zone in Beijing. (Illustrative photo: XPENG AEROHT).
Since 2021, following the central government’s issuance of policies and regulations to promote “low-altitude economy,” this emerging sector has gained significant attention in China. The low-altitude economy encompasses economic activities in airspace below 3,000 meters, driven by the operations of both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Data indicates that 26 provincial governments in China have included the development of “low-altitude economy” in their work reports this year. In March, Beijing also released a detailed development plan for the period from 2024 to 2027. According to this plan, the city aims to become a showcase for innovative applications of low-altitude flying technology, creating and exploring diverse application scenarios. Beijing will also establish air travel routes connecting Daxing Airport with Xiong’an New Area, Capital Airport with Tianjin, and Lang Fang (Hebei)… while exploring new applications of flying cars in intercity and intracity transport services.
According to the China Low-Altitude Economic Development Report (2024) by the Industrial Information Development Center under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, the market for the “low-altitude economy” reached 506 billion yuan in 2023 and is projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan (approximately 138 billion USD) by 2026.
Notably, the Daxing International Airport Economic Zone, where the flying car demonstration took place, is located at the center of the “Golden Triangle” formed by Beijing, Tianjin, and Xiong’an, adjacent to three major aviation hubs. This area is focusing on the low-altitude economy, exploring green, convenient, and efficient transportation methods for the future, as well as building an advanced transportation network. Thus, this marks the first flight of a flying car in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Chinese media suggest that this flight presents new possibilities for future urban air travel.
