Chinese Tesla rival reveals plans for a flying car
Xpeng, a Chinese electric vehicle company, has unveiled concepts for what could be the world’s first flying car.
More than 500 companies are reportedly working on similar vehicles, with about a dozen already in testing. On Oct. 24, Xpeng, a competitor to Tesla in the United States, revealed designs for a full-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVToL) flying car at its fourth annual Tech Day in Guangzhou, China. According to the company, the electric car has completed a maiden flight and several tests.
“We continue to achieve technical breakthroughs and set new industry benchmarks, driven by our vision of ‘tech for the greater good’ and customers’ evolving demands,” Xpeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said at the event.
A prototype of the flying car can be seen mid-flight in public videos before landing back on the ground. An additional teaser video of the model shows propellers, which look like helicopter wings, extending outward before retracting back.
When in driving mode, the eVToL flying car is designed to look like a regular car. Once in the air and in “flight mode,” it is controlled by the steering wheel and a right-hand gear lever.
The flying car is just one of several breakthroughs announced by the company during its Tech Day. Other advancements in driver assistance technology and robotaxis were also shared by Xpeng.
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