Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 3, XPENG AEROHT held an exclusive preview event in Guangzhou, revealing the highly anticipated modular eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) flying car, the "Land Aircraft Carrier." This marks the first public appearance of the vehicle, accompanied by a live flight demonstration.
Mr. Zhao Deli, founder of XPENG AEROHT, shared insights on the company's journey, mission, and strategic roadmap. He also announced that the "Land Aircraft Carrier" will make its global debut at the Airshow China in Zhuhai this November, followed by the Auto Guangzhou 2024, with pre-orders expected to open by year-end.
XPENG AEROHT, the largest-ever flying car company in Asia and an ecosystem company affiliated to XPENG, first introduced the "Land Aircraft Carrier" concept in October 2023. Less than a year later, the company has showcased the actual vehicle for the first time.
The vehicle, measuring 5.5 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 2 meters in height, can fit in standard parking spaces and be driven with a regular driver's license. The "Land Aircraft Carrier" is composed of two parts: the ground vehicle, referred to as the "mother ship," and the flying module. The "mother ship" features a tri-axle, six-wheel design, offering 6×6 all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering, with impressive off-road and load-carrying capabilities. The vehicle also boasts the world's first trunk capable of housing an aircraft, while still providing spacious seating for four passengers.
The flying module features a six-axis, six-rotor ducted fan configuration. Made from carbon fiber for strength and lightness, it can separate from the ground vehicle with the press of a button, thanks to an innovative automatic docking system. Once separated, the module's six arms and rotors unfold for low-altitude flight. After landing, the flying module reconnects to the ground vehicle via autonomous driving and docking capabilities.
The "mother ship" is powered an 800V silicon carbide range-extended platform, providing a range of over 1,000 kilometers, making it ideal for long-distance travel. It also doubles as a mobile supercharging station, capable of recharging the flying module both while driving and when stationary, allowing for up to six flights on a full charge. The flying module also utilizes an 800V high-voltage system, enhancing energy efficiency and charging speed.
Zhao Deli emphasized XPENG AEROHT's commitment to building safe and intelligent low-altitude mobility solutions. The company is rapidly expanding partnerships to establish application scenarios for the "Land Aircraft Carrier." To date, XPENG AEROHT has secured partnerships for over 70 flying camps and plans to exceed 200 by the end of the year.
In addition to revolutionizing personal transportation, XPENG AEROHT envisions significant applications for flying cars in public services, including emergency medical rescue, obstacle-avoidance missions, highway accident response, and high-rise evacuation pods.
During the event, Mr. Zhao also introduced XPENG AEROHT's three-phase product strategy. The first phase focuses on launching the split-body flying car for limited-use scenarios such as suburban areas, scenic spots, and flying camps, while also serving public services. The second phase will see the development of long-range, high-speed eVTOL aircraft to address urban and intercity air traffic challenges. The third phase aims to bring fully integrated flying cars capable of door-to-door 3D transportation.
Between the first and second phases, XPENG AEROHT plans to develop derivative products from the "Land Aircraft Carrier" to meet diverse user needs and expand its applications in various public service sectors.
