Flying Cars Buzz in China's Cyberspace
Cissy, a reporter from Hong Kong, attended the CES trade show in Las Vegas earlier this year. She wrote a story about Chinese EV maker Xpeng's ambition to deliver its dual-mode electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, essentially a flying car. However, a contact from Xpeng's rival texted her, "The industry considers it [dual-mode] a joke."
While it's too early to say whether Xpeng's flying car will be successful, flying cars are already generating significant buzz in China's cyberspace, even though they're not yet available for daily commutes.
Ehang's Air Taxi Takes Flight on Taobao
Last month, Guangzhou-based autonomous aerial vehicle maker Ehang started selling its air taxi on Taobao for 2.39 million yuan (around $330,000). Two days later, the company partnered with Chinese influencer Luo Yonghao to sell it via livestream. Luo successfully sold one air taxi for 1.99 million yuan and received 12 preorders with a deposit of 39,990 yuan each.
Why Xpeng's Dual-Mode Flying Car Might Be a Joke
Cissy's contact believes Xpeng's dual-mode flying car is a joke because the company is trying to do too much. By betting on both EV and eVTOL, Xpeng could face two sets of harsh regulations, one for land vehicles and one for aerial vehicles.
China Leads the Way in eVTOL Technology
China accounts for 50% of the world's total eVTOL models, far exceeding the U.S.'s 18% and Germany's 8%. This significant lead can be attributed to China's advanced EV-related technologies, particularly in the field of batteries. Chinese battery manufacturers like CATL are developing battery solutions specifically for eVTOL vehicles, giving Chinese eVTOL manufacturers an edge.
Local Governments Support the Low-Altitude Economy
With local governments' support for the so-called low-altitude economy, Chinese vehicle makers like Xpeng, Ehang, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Geely, and their affiliates are all racing to claim a large share of the emerging global market. Ehang received authorization to mass produce its flying vehicles earlier this month.
Hurdles Remain for Widespread Use
Despite local government support, hurdles remain for widespread use of flying cars. There are still few takeoff and landing points, and traffic rules for individual drivers are not yet in place.