On June 16th, electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng conducted the maiden flight of its flying car at Beijing Daxing International Airport in China. This flight heralds the potential for commercialization of low-altitude urban and inter-urban air mobility.
AeroHT's X2 Performs Historic Flight
The flight was carried out by AeroHT's (a subsidiary of Xpeng) X2 flying car in the Daxing International Airport Economic Zone. The showcase took place during the Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair, held from June 16th to 20th.
AeroHT has set the stage for commercialization of its flying cars, with pre-orders expected to open in Q4 2024 and mass production and deliveries in Q4 2025. The X2 was first unveiled internationally in Dubai in 2022. As an emission-free vehicle, the X2 represents a significant step towards green urban transportation. The pricing of the flying car has not yet been disclosed.
China Embraces 'Low-Altitude Economy'
Since 2021, China has witnessed growing attention to the nascent field of "low-altitude economy" following supportive policies and regulations issued by the central government. Low-altitude economy encompasses economic activities in the airspace below 3,000 meters, driven by low-altitude manned and unmanned aircraft operations.
Statistics indicate that 26 provincial-level governments in China have incorporated the development of low-altitude economy into their work reports this year. In March, Beijing released a detailed development plan for 2024-2027, aiming to become a national demonstration zone for low-altitude application innovation and explore various application scenarios. Beijing plans to establish air routes connecting Daxing Airport with Xiongan New Area, as well as Beijing Capital Airport with Tianjin and Langfang (Hebei), while also exploring applications of flying cars for urban and inter-city transportation.
According to the "2024 China Low-Altitude Economy Development Research Report" published by the Industrial Economic Development Research Center under China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country's low-altitude economy market reached 506 billion yuan in 2023 and is projected to surpass 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) by 2026.
Daxing's Role in Low-Altitude Economy
The Daxing International Airport Economic Zone, where the flying car demonstration took place, is strategically located at the heart of the Beijing-Tianjin-Xiong'an "Golden Triangle," with access to three major aviation hubs. The zone is heavily focused on the low-altitude economy, exploring future-forward modes of transportation that are green, convenient, and efficient, and building an interconnected transportation network. This flight marks a pioneering moment for flying cars in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Chinese media suggests that the flight opens up new possibilities for future urban air mobility.