Foto: BB.LV / Летающие автомобили XPeng
“This is no longer science fiction or a one-off demonstration aircraft,” said Michael Du, vice president and CFO of the Chinese company XPeng, to Euronews Next. People will be able to start traveling in so-called flying cars in China as early as summer 2027, the manufacturer of the two-seater autopilot device told Euronews Next. The low-flying XPeng Aridge is close to mass commercial deployment, with limited deliveries to partners in China expected within a few months, followed by a wider rollout, and the device has already been approved by China's civil aviation authorities for limited use. According to Du, the company has received over 7,000 pre-orders worldwide, “most of them in China, but there are some from Middle Eastern countries.” Among the buyers are individuals interested in personal flights and air tourism, as well as operators in emergency rescue and public services. “This demonstrates how broad the range of applications for our products is,” he said. The aircraft has undergone technical flight tests in a variety of conditions. “We tested it at sea level, at high altitudes, in cold areas, hot areas, in strong winds, and even in rainy areas, in many extreme cases, so it is safe,” said Du. The company has been developing this technology for a decade at its own mass production facility in Guangzhou. It has also received type testing approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, whose test pilots have completed all test assignments. The company is now undergoing the final stage of type certification. ## ## The Future of Mobility According to Du, electric flying vehicles will change transportation just as electrification transformed cars. “Electrification has transformed and advanced the automotive industry. Similar processes will occur in the aviation industry,” he said, mentioning better power distribution, more backup systems, and quieter operation. In response to a question about how the aircraft could change mobility in the long term, the executive cited a Chinese proverb about roads. “In China, there is a saying: if you want to develop the economy, it’s better to build roads first,” he said. “When you have better roads, accessibility increases for everyone.” He noted that this logic applied while most trips were made by ground transport; however, air mobility offers “another format for improving the efficiency of the transportation system.” He said this would “completely change how people travel over time, in terms of efficiency and economics.” The main advantage, according to Du, is that aircraft do not require continuous infrastructure. “You don’t need to build infrastructure inch by inch from the departure point to the arrival point,” he said. “That’s how cars are. That’s how high-speed rail lines are.” According to Du, the device could also prove useful for island nations and sparsely populated regions, “such territories will become very valuable” when air mobility emerges, as it will create economic value. ## ## When will the device appear in Europe? After China, the company plans to work with foreign regulators and partners, with the most obvious early markets being the Middle East and Southeast Asia. But Europe, according to Du, “is definitely a very attractive market.” He added that the company hopes that the Web Summit will help introduce European consumers, regulators, and partners to the product. However, Du noted that there are several hurdles to overcome before entering Europe, including bringing an affordable product to market, as well as creating the necessary infrastructure and flight spaces. ## ## Geopolitics In response to a question about tensions between the U.S. and China, Du said the company advocates for more open markets and would be happy to enter the U.S. market if regulatory conditions allow. He noted that China, the U.S., and Europe together account for only about half of the global market for flying vehicles, so the temporary lack of access to one of them still leaves significant room for growth. Du compared the situation to Chinese electric vehicles, which are now widely recognized in Europe. “Start small, start outside the city, begin with cargo transport, with transporting some passengers, gradually move to larger devices and enter cities,” said Du. “I think this could be one of the paths for more positive industry development.
