XPENG AEROHT, a subsidiary of electric vehicle manufacturer XPENG, has begun construction on a flying car manufacturing base in Guangzhou, China, marking the first facility globally to apply advanced assembly line processes for large-scale flying car production.
This cutting-edge plant is dedicated to producing the air module of the Modular Flying Car “Land Aircraft Carrier”, and is designed with a projected annual capacity of 10,000 units.
Situated in the Guangzhou Development District and constructed by China Construction Fourth Engineering Bureau, the facility spans an initial footprint of approximately 180,000 square meters and incorporates 4 major workshops: Composites Shop, Joint Shop, Painting Shop, Assembly Shop, and other supporting infrastructure.
The manufacturing base will draw on the high-precision demands of the aviation sector while leveraging the efficiency of automotive mass production. This combined expertise aims to improve quality consistency, reduce production costs, and significantly shorten delivery timelines, fostering integration between the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and the low-altitude economy.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, XPENG AEROHT Founder Zhao Deli commented, “This manufacturing base adheres to the principles of exquisite, intelligence, and green, establishing a global benchmark for flying car production.” Zhao added that the company is dedicated not only to in-house development of core technologies but also to manufacturing key components within the facility, ensuring rigorous quality control, cost efficiency, and maximized customer value.
XPENG AEROHT’s flying car manufacturing base breaks ground—low-altitude travel is closer than ever!#XPENGAEROHT #FlyingCar #Tech #Innovation pic.twitter.com/4Hom3ekRpr
— XPENG AEROHT (@XPENG_AEROHT) October 27, 2024
The factory design integrates workshops and centralized logistics in a streamlined, compact layout, reducing waste in storage and transportation while enhancing production efficiency. XPENG AEROHT will employ a comprehensive traceability system that ensures compliance with strict aviation safety standards, tracking each component from the supply chain to final assembly.
Additionally, the plant will implement solar power generation across its facilities, employ energy-saving equipment in high-energy areas, and utilize a digital energy management system for real-time monitoring, significantly lowering its carbon footprint.
“This establishment of the world’s first mass production facility for flying cars is a milestone not only for XPENG AEROHT but also for the Guangzhou Development District’s advancement in the low-altitude economy sector”, said Shao Jingbo, Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Development District Administrative Committee. “We look forward to collaborating with XPENG AEROHT to drive the flying car industry forward, reaching new heights and expanding the industry’s impact on national economic growth.”
Recently, XPENG AEROHT completed the inaugural manned test flight of the “Land Aircraft Carrier” air module. The “Land Aircraft Carrier” will make its first public manned flight at the China Airshow in Zhuhai, one of the world’s four major aviation events, this November. Additionally, it will appear at the Guangzhou International Auto Show in November, with pre-sales expected to start by the end of the year.
The “Land Aircraft Carrier” is expected to enter pre-sales later this year, with an estimated price of 2 million Yuan (about 259,500 Euros).
The World’s First Modular Flying Car “Land Aircraft Carrier”
The “Land Aircraft Carrier” boasts a minimalist, cyber-mech design, immediately evoking the feeling of an otherworldly vehicle. Measuring approximately 5.5 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 2 meters in height, the car can fit into a standard parking spot and be driven with a Class C license. It consists of two parts: the ground module, known as the “mothership”, and the air module. The ground module features a six-wheel, three-axle design with 6×6 all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering, offering off-road capability and payload capacity. It also features a uniquely large trunk capable of storing an aircraft, while still offering a spacious four-seat interior.
The body design is sleek, with a continuous “galaxy parabola” contour line stretching from the front headlights to the roof. The electronically-operated double-hinged doors add a sense of prestige. The rear trunk features a semi-transparent glass design, allowing the stored aircraft to be subtly visible. Whether driving or parked, the car showcases how cutting-edge technology is entering everyday life.
The flight module features an innovative six-axis, six-propeller dual-ducted fan design, with the body and blades made from carbon fiber for both strength and lightweight performance. The 270° panoramic cockpit provides a wide field of view for the user.
XPENG AEROHT developed the world’s first onboard automatic separation and reconnection mechanism, allowing the ground and air modules to separate and rejoin with a single command. After separation, the six arms and propellers of the air module unfold, enabling low-altitude flight. When the air module lands, the arms and propellers fold back in, and the ground module, using its autonomous driving capabilities and the automatic reconnection mechanism, precisely reunites with the air module. This breakthrough innovation solves two major challenges of traditional aircraft: difficulty in movement and storage. The ground module not only serves as a mobile platform but also as a storage and energy replenishment station, making it a “Land Aircraft Carrier” that allows users to drive freely and fly freely.
The ground module, known as the “mothership”, is equipped with the world’s first 800V silicon carbide extended-range powertrain, providing a combined range of over 1000km, easily meeting long-distance travel needs. Additionally, it serves as a “mobile supercharging station”, able to provide high-power energy replenishment to the air module while driving or parked, allowing for up to six flights on a full tank of fuel and full battery charge. The flight module features a fully integrated 800V silicon carbide high-voltage platform, with its flight battery, electric drive, ducted fans, and compressors all operating on 800V, ensuring lower energy consumption and faster charging speeds.
The air module of the “Land Aircraft Carrier” supports both manual and autonomous driving modes. Traditional aircraft are highly complex to operate, with a steep learning curve. In response, XPENG AEROHT developed the world’s first single-lever control system, allowing users to pilot the aircraft with just one hand, eliminating the need for the complex “dual-hand and dual-foot” controls of traditional aircraft. Even users with no prior experience can master it in 5 minutes, and become proficient in 3 hours.
In autonomous mode, the air module supports one-touch takeoff and landing, automatic flight path planning, and autonomous flight, equipped with multidimensional intelligent aerial perception and obstacle avoidance, as well as assisted landing visuals.
The air module adopts a full-redundancy safety design, with backup systems for power, flight control, power supply, communication, and operation. If the primary system fails, the secondary system seamlessly takes over. The intelligent flight control and navigation system employs triple-redundant heterogeneous designs, utilizing different hardware and software architectures to minimize the impact of single-point failures on the entire system, thereby enhancing overall safety. In the future, XPENG AEROHT plans to deploy over 200 air modules, conducting a variety of safety tests across components, systems, and the entire vehicle. These tests will include single-point failure tests for all key systems and components, such as rotors, motors, battery packs, flight control systems, and navigation equipment. Additionally, XPENG AEROHT will conduct a variety of safety tests on over 200 flying cars, including single-point failure tests for critical systems such as rotors, motors, batteries, and flight control systems, as well as high-temperature, low-temperature, and high-altitude performance tests.
