Chinese automaker Chery said it will launch its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying car in October, marking its official entry into the rapidly growing low-altitude economy sector.
Wang Junjie, director of Chery’s flying car laboratory, announced the timeline at a forum in the southwestern city of Chongqing on Friday, adding that the company will begin the certification process for the aircraft at the same time.
“Our goal is to drive the low-altitude economy from a laboratory concept into reality for households,” Wang said at the event.
The eVTOL industry in China has gained momentum in recent years as the government relaxed restrictions on low-altitude airspace and encouraged new mobility solutions. According to a report by the China Low Altitude Economic Alliance, the country could see 100,000 eVTOL aircraft in use by 2030, either in private households or operating as air taxis.
Wang said much of the supply chain supporting eVTOL development overlaps with that of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, including electric motors, control systems and battery packs. “Seventy to eighty percent of the components in the eVTOL supply chain overlap with the NEV industry,” he noted.
Chery first demonstrated a flying car prototype in October 2024 at a company technology event, completing a test flight of approximately 80 kilometers. In February, the automaker released a video showcasing the vehicle in operation.
The flying car initiative comes as China’s major cities build out aerial transport networks and ground support infrastructure in anticipation of commercial eVTOL deployment over the next two to three years.
Currently, Ehang remains the only publicly listed Chinese company in the eVTOL sector, with several hundred units of its EH216-S aircraft already delivered.