The Xpeng X2 flying car has completed its first successful test flight across the bustling central business district of Guangzhou. This marks a significant milestone for Xpeng AeroHT, the company behind the innovative electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, as it continues to push the boundaries of urban transportation.
The Xpeng X2’s latest achievement comes just days after it made headlines with its first cross-river flight, signaling rapid advancements in the practical applications of flying cars.
The recent test flight, covering a distance of 1.5 kilometres in four minutes, demonstrated the Xpeng X2’s capabilities in navigating complex urban environments. According to Xpeng AeroHT, this test was crucial for accumulating experience for future low-altitude applications, such as urban air transportation and low-altitude tourism. The successful flight indicates that the X2 is ready to meet the demands of inter-city commutes and sightseeing in densely populated areas.
Xpeng Chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, emphasized the importance of extensive testing. He mentioned that he has mandated at least 5,000 kilometres of hands-on experience before the flying car is available for sale. Currently, the Xpeng X2 boasts nearly 4,000 test flights in various scenarios, including over-sea areas, deserts, and now urban CBDs.
Xpeng’s Flying Cars
Xpeng AeroHT’s journey in the flying car industry began in 2013, with the founding of the company by Zhao Deli and financial backing from He Xiaopeng. Initially named Heitech, the company rebranded to AeroHT as it progressed in developing flying vehicles. The X2, unveiled on Weibo in 2021, represents the fifth generation of their flying cars.
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The Xpeng X2, weighing 360 kg with a maximum takeoff weight of 560 kg, features advanced autonomous flight path planning capabilities. Equipped with multiple sensors, it can monitor the ground and self-return to land, ensuring safety and reliability. The vehicle has a range of 35 minutes and can reach a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph).
Technical Specifications
The X2 flying car is designed with practicality in mind. Its airframe dimensions are 5172 mm in length, 5124 mm in width, and 1362 mm in height, and it folds down to 4949 mm in length, 2113 mm in width, and 2055 mm in height for convenient storage. Constructed mainly from carbon materials, the X2 has a curb weight of 680 kg and can carry two passengers with a combined weight of 160 kg.
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Unlike most consumer drones that typically have four motors, the Xpeng X2 is an octocopter, featuring eight motors and propellers for enhanced thrust and redundancy. This design allows the aircraft to maintain flight even if one motor fails, and in the event of multiple motor failures, a built-in parachute is included to cushion any potential fall.
AeroHT is gearing up for mass production of the X2, with plans to release an extended-range version by 2025. This follows the vehicle’s successful international debut in Dubai in October 2022 and the receipt of a conditional flight permit from Chinese authorities in January 2024, making it the first crewed eVTOL in China to obtain such a permit.
The Xpeng X2 is poised to revolutionize the transportation landscape, offering a glimpse into a future where flying cars are a common sight in urban skies. While the exact price has yet to be revealed, CEO Zhao Deli has indicated that the price range for a flying car will be between 800,000 and 1,500,000 yuan (approximately $110,000 to USD 205,000).