Xpeng’s flying car unit, Xpeng Aeroht, has obtained a key flight permit in the United Arab Emirates for its Land Aircraft Carrier modular flying car, marking a milestone in the company’s overseas expansion.
The permit, described by Xpeng Aeroht as the first manned aircraft special flight permit obtained by a Chinese flying car firm outside China, allows the company to conduct manned flight tests across multiple UAE locations. Xpeng Aeroht plans to complete the vehicle’s inaugural flight in Dubai this October and aims to begin deliveries in the second half of 2026, the company announced at the IAA Mobility auto show in Munich, Germany.
The Land Aircraft Carrier has been under development for 12 years, with approximately $600 million invested and seven iterations completed. In the domestic Chinese market, the vehicle has already attracted nearly 5,000 pre-orders. The modular flying car system includes both a flying vehicle and a “mother vehicle” capable of recharging it, reflecting Xpeng Aeroht’s dual focus on eVTOL and modular flying cars, according to founder and president Zhao Deli.
Mass production of the Land Aircraft Carrier is expected to begin by 2026, with pricing capped at RMB 2 million ($280,860). In October 2024, construction began on Xpeng Aeroht’s flying car manufacturing base, which aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 10,000 units. Earlier this year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China accepted the company’s Production Certificate application for the vehicle’s flying unit, initiating the formal review process.
Xpeng Aeroht also secured a $250 million Series B funding round in July to accelerate the modular flying car’s mass production. The development underscores Xpeng’s ambition to expand its footprint in the rapidly evolving eVTOL and flying car market.