China’s Skyward Surge: A Leader in the Flying Car Revolution

The 2024 CES exhibition opened in Las Vegas, USA. Xpeng AeroHT unveiled an integrated flying car at the exhibition, which features a forward-looking “black technology” intelligent cockpit with a foldable steering wheel, transparent instrument panel, and transparent cockpit chassis, allowing for free switching between land mode and flight mode. At the same time, Hyundai Motor, the world’s third-largest automaker, has also launched the first electric flying taxi S-A2. The debut of these two innovative products together became the focus of the exhibition, further promoting attention and discussion in the field of flying cars.

Slovak company Klein Vision will produce flying cars in China

Slovak company Klein Vision recently announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with a flying car startup in Hebei, China to sell its related patent for the flying car “AirCar” to the latter.

It is reported that this flying car is powered by a BMW engine and has dual functions of both a car and an airplane. It can switch modes within 3 minutes. The car has a range of 1000 kilometers and is powered by both gasoline and electric (battery) modes. This flying car takes off and lands on the runway and has two prototypes, with a flight speed of 190-300 kilometers per hour.

China hopes to commercialize electric flying vehicles by 2030

At present, a prototype model of this flying car has obtained an airworthiness certificate issued by the Slovak aviation safety agency, which means it can now participate in air traffic. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has also paid attention to the above-mentioned cooperation, stating that the successful development and test flight of the flying car “AirCar” in Europe has sold relevant technology patents to a Chinese company, which will have the right to manufacture and use it in specific regions.

China hopes to commercialize electric flying vehicles by 2030, and the development of a “low altitude economy” has been included in China’s national plan for the first time. In December 2023, it was explicitly proposed to develop several strategic emerging industries, including the low altitude economy. Several foreign media outlets have stated that emerging industries related to low altitude economy are expected to become one of the growth engines of China’s economy in the future.

Flying cars will become a reality

According to media reports, China has become a world leader in the development of low altitude fields, including flying cars and electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL), with many strong participants emerging. In October 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China officially issued the world’s first unmanned manned eVTOL model certificate to Ehang. On February 27th, AutoFlight successfully completed the world’s first eVTOL cross sea and cross city air route flight between Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

“China is leading the development of electric vehicles and is currently actively developing (low altitude) flight transportation solutions,” BBC said. The UK government has previously stated that by 2028, “flying taxis may become the norm in the air.”. Some media also claim that although flying cars have the potential to completely change transportation, there are still some challenges, such as a lack of supporting infrastructure and safety regulations. Flying cars still need to be accepted by the public and will take some time to become mainstream in the market. However, the Austrian technology media Trendingtopics website stated that “if there is a country that can bring flying cars into the mainstream, it may be China.”.